Americans should prepare for persistently high prices for eggs throughout this year, according to new estimates that highlight the ongoing challenges posed by the avian flu outbreak and rising inflation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has projected that egg prices could soar by approximately 20% in 2025. In comparison, the general food prices are expected to rise by a much less significant 2.2%.
This upward pressure on egg prices is particularly noteworthy given that beef, coffee, and orange juice are also seeing higher costs, yet eggs remain uniquely affected by the aggressive strain of avian flu impacting poultry populations.
The continued presence of the virus has caused serious disruptions in supply, leading to soaring prices for consumers.
While some regions of the United States managed to avoid the significant outbreaks experienced last year, many areas have reported a troubling resurgence of the virus.
In the last months of 2024, the avian flu resulted in the unfortunate slaughter of approximately 17.2 million egg-laying hens, which accounted for nearly half of all birds lost to the virus during that year, according to the USDA.
As of December, the average retail price for a dozen large, grade-A eggs surged to $4.15, marking an increase from $3.65 in November.
This spike in egg prices reflects a substantial year-over-year increase; data from the Consumer Price Index indicates that egg prices rose more than 36% compared to the same month the previous year.
Emily Metz, the president and CEO of the American Egg Board, expressed concern over the situation, stating, “Not to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re in this for a while.
Until we have time without a detection, unfortunately this very, very tight egg supply is going to continue.”
This highlights the likelihood that consumers may face ongoing challenges in accessing affordable eggs in the near future due to these persistent supply chain issues.
According to MSN, Several grocery retailers have implemented purchase limits on the quantity of eggs a consumer may acquire in a single transaction.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicated in its egg market overview that this measure aims to extend the available supply, as noted by Metz, who stated, “people start to panic buy eggs.”
Metz further elaborated that consumers are increasingly recognizing the inherent value of eggs, which, despite experiencing a slight price increase, remain essential to their daily lives.
The persistence of high prices is closely tied to ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza. States such as California, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio have reported cases, resulting in approximately 8.3 million birds succumbing to the disease in January alone, as documented by the USDA.
In recent months, manufacturers and egg wholesalers have substantially raised their prices.
For instance, in New York, the wholesale price for large cartons of eggs has surged to $7.24 per dozen, while in the Midwest, it has reached $6.84.
In California, wholesale prices for large eggs have decreased to $8.35 per dozen.
This situation presents challenges for grocery retailers, who continue to maintain pricing at record or near-record levels, as noted by the USDA.
The avian influenza outbreaks have adversely affected farms where birds are cultivated for egg production, thereby diminishing the population of young birds that are crucial for compensating the loss of egg-laying hens.
