WARRINGTON'S households are thousands of pounds worse off than predicted in 2010.

Estimates made 14 years ago suggest that households in Warrington are now almost £8,500 worse off than if 2010's economic trends had been followed.

The average person in the region has missed out on £12,230 in disposable income when compared with predictions based on 2010 trends, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Cities.

While jobs increased, weak productivity growth meant that the growth of disposable incomes was underwhelming.

Total disposable income per head in Liverpool since 2010 was £15,720 lower than it would have been if it had grown in line with 1998-2010 trends, while in Manchester and Burnley the figures were £8,180 and £28,090 respectively.

In terms of the north west, Warrington was 39th worse off, with gross domestic household income (GDHI) being £8,440 lower than predicted in 2010.

At a national level, people have been left with £10,200 less to spend or save on average since 2010 than if the economy had grown at pre-2010 trends.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of the Centre for Cities, said: “Both the two main political parties have pledged to grow the economy and the general election debate will have growth at its heart.

"The challenge for the next government is to go beyond the rhetoric and to do what’s needed to make this rhetoric a reality.

“The UK has had a torrid time since the Great Recession.

"Everywhere, up and down the country, including places that were doing relatively well before, has been levelled down because of the lack of growth. To get growth in every place, the next government needs to act at a radically different pace and scale and mark the beginning of a multi-decade policy programme.

“The first step in a realistic approach to grow the economy is to recognise that the British economy is an urban economy.

"Cities account for nine per cent of the land and over 60 per cent of the economy, as well as 72 per cent of high-skilled jobs.

"Their slowdown is at the heart of why the national economy is struggling. There is no plausible way of achieving higher growth without increasing the innovation and dynamism of urban Britain.

“This means reforming the planning system to enable cities to grow, devolving more powers and financial freedoms to encourage our big cities to make decisions that support growth, and following the levelling up rhetoric with bold actions.”