BROMSGROVE'S economy will be less affected than anywhere else in the Midlands - and almost anywhere else in the entire country - by the coronavirus outbreak, according to financial experts.
While parts of the country will see their economic output almost halved as the pandemic spreads, Bromsgrove is in a far better position to recover from lockdown restrictions.
That is due to the district's vast number of financial and human health sector institutions with the latter sector - which includes health, residential and social care - somewhat logically one of the few industries predicted to grow during the pandemic.
Using government figures, the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) estimates that economic output will decline by just over a quarter - 26% - in Bromsgrove due to the coronavirus crisis.
Read more: Heartless thieves steal Bromsgrove nurse's car and handbag
That is less than the predicted UK average of 35% and much less than, for example, neighbouring areas Redditch and Wyre Forest, each forecast to decline by 41%.
Andy Norman, CCP research analyst, explained: "The main reason why Bromsgrove is less affected than other places is because it has a much larger financial sector relative to other local authorities.
"It also has a bigger human health sector. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicts the financial sector will decline by only 5% and the human health sector will grow by 50%."
Bromsgrove is somewhat of an anomaly in the Midlands which, as a region, is predicted to be among the worst affected with five areas - including tourist hotspot Stratford-upon-Avon - among the top six.
Read more: Meet the Bromsgrove firm making thousands of NHS face visors
Indeed, Bromsgrove is predicted to be the least-affected of the 30 West Midlands local authority areas - and only six areas in the entire country have economies that will deal with the pandemic better.
Bromsgrove sits 377th on the list of 383 local authorities - with only Isle of Wight, South Norfolk, City of London, Tower Hamlets, Middlesbrough and the Orkneys positioned better to rebound from the crisis.
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."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here