About the author

Bernadette is a journalist with years of experience covering topics in macroeconomics, real estate, and lifestyle beats for notable print media organisations. She joined the InfoChoice Group in 2024, bringing her passion for writing stories that help Australians make better decisions about money.


Bernadette's latest articles

Bernadette Lunas

Australia’s jobless rate lifts to 3.8% in March

New ABS jobs data revealed Australia’s unemployment rate rose to a seasonally adjusted 3.8% in March, suggest...

18 Apr 2024
Bernadette Lunas

NAB's lower variable home loan rates reflect pricing strategy revamp

National Australia Bank (NAB) has dropped the advertised rates on its discounted variable home loan to better reflect the actual rates borrowers pay.

17 Apr 2024
Bernadette Lunas

New term deposit market leader emerges in a quiet week of rate movements

A new top rate emerging for six-month term deposits livened up a relatively quiet week for TD rate changes. ...

12 Apr 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Rent prices across capital cities hit fresh highs

Good news for investors, bad news for renters: Australia’s nationwide house and unit rental prices soared to new record highs as vacancy rates remain a...

11 Apr 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Inflation, cash rate woes lead to prolonged consumer pessimism

Australian consumers are becoming more and more pessimistic as they grapple with persistent cost-of-living pressures and high interest rates.

09 Apr 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Banks, customer-owned institutions adjust home loan rates

The first week of April welcomed more home loans breaching the 5% rate level.

05 Apr 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Australia’s housing shortage worsens as building approvals dip 1.9%

Building approvals continued to disappoint as fresh data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed ne...

04 Apr 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Another month, more home price growth: Values hit new record of $772k

Despite rate hikes and cost-of-living pressures, Australia’s property market maintained its steady climb with a 1.6% rise in prices in the first quarte...

02 Apr 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Term deposit rates yo-yo in shadow of RBA’s neutral stance; new market leaders emerge

Despite the broadly expected RBA rate cuts in the mid-year, two banks have chosen to increase their offered rates o...

28 Mar 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Australia’s inflation rate unswayed by the ‘Taylor Swift effect’

Australia’s inflation rate remains unchanged for the third consecutive month, fuelling hopes the RBA would fi...

27 Mar 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Concerns over rate hikes dampen consumer confidence

Sentiment among Australian consumers declined following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) less-than-reass...

26 Mar 2024
Bernadette Lunas

Home Loan Fees and Costs Explained

It's easy to be absorbed in the excitement of finally having the funds to purchase your home that you might overlook the fac...

25 Mar 2024