THE Wyre Forest economy will be hit harder than most in Worcestershire and the UK as a whole by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, according to financial experts.

Using government figures, the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) estimates that economic output will decline by 41% in Wyre Forest due to the ongoing pandemic.

That is the joint highest forecast in the county - alongside Redditch and Wychavon - and is much higher than neighbouring Worcester (33%) and Bromsgrove (26%), for instance.

The damage to the Wyre Forest's thriving retail scene is likely the biggest cause of the predicted decline, which is forecast to eclipse the 35% expected to be suffered nationally.

Out of 383 local authorities across the country, Wyre Forest sits 69th on the list - which puts it inside the top 20% of areas likely to be worst affected in financial terms by the outbreak.

Andy Norman, CCP research analyst, explained: "In Wyre Forest it looks like a larger ‘wholesale and retail trade’ sector is driving the above average decline.

"The health sector - which The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicts will grow by 50% - is slightly smaller than average too."

The Wyre Forest's predicament is reflective of the Midlands as a whole.

The region is predicted to be the worst affected nationally with five areas - including tourist hotspot Stratford-upon-Avon - among the top six.

To obtain the forecasts, CPP applied the methodology from the official figures to every local authority district in the UK.

They weighted the average sectoral hit by the distribution of each local authority’s GVA - gross value added, the measure of goods and services produced in an area - by sector.

Its report said: "The analysis shows the importance of viewing the economic impact of the coronavirus through a place-based lens.

"The challenge the Chancellor faces is one of shoring up, before moving to a revitalised levelling up agenda that recognises the new place-based challenges facing the economy."