Heatwaves slash Big Issue vendors' earnings across the UK
Extreme temperatures are causing a sharp drop in Big Issue magazine sales, cutting vendors' incomes by up to a third in affected regions.
Catherine Parsons, managing director of the Big Issue, warned that heatwaves are immediately hurting vendors' earnings, with average sales down 20% compared with the same weeks last year. In the hottest weeks, the West Midlands recorded a 34% drop and Wales a 33% drop in sales. London vendor George Anderson described reduced foot traffic and customers preferring air-conditioned venues, noting his own sales have fallen noticeably.
The fifth UK heatwave of the year pushed temperatures to 37.7 °C, prompting the Met Office to label the summer potentially the hottest on record. Big Issue teams are distributing sunscreen, caps and water bottles, yet extreme heat still makes street vending unsafe and forces sellers to cut shifts, jeopardising their ability to pay rent and buy essentials. Anderson, who stays in a hostel, also struggles with warm nights after long days on the street.
Why it matters
The story highlights how climate extremes directly threaten the livelihoods of vulnerable street vendors in the UK.
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