The cost of those Grade A eggs has increased recently, barely two years after egg prices hit all-time highs, which is a shock to grocery buyers.
According to consumer price index statistics released Wednesday, the average retail price of eggs in the United States has increased by 38% since November 2023. Just last month, prices went up 8%.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of a carton of twelve large Grade A eggs increased from $2.14 in November to $3.65 in November.
Economists and industry analysts attribute the spike to two main factors: the strong consumer demand that is normal during the winter holiday season, and bird flu, which has decreased the availability of eggs.
The possibility of us flirting with record price highs is extremely possible, according to Brian Moscogiuri, vice president of egg producer Eggs Unlimited.
The price of a dozen grade A eggs increased from $1.93 in January 2022 to $4.82 in January 2023.
According to CPI data, eggs had an annual inflation rate of 60% in calendar year 2022, making them a standout product during a period of high pandemic-era inflation. They even became part of the culture: during the Grammy Awards in February 2023, pop sensation Taylor Swift told comedian Trevor Noah that her fans would take action to help bring down the price of eggs.
How a ‘serious’ bird flu outbreak is affecting egg prices
Currently, as in 2022–2023, bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, is a major offender.
Among birds, notably chickens, bird flu is a deadly and highly contagious illness. According to Moscogiuri, a significant outbreak is currently occurring in the United States.
According to specialists, the illness has persisted since it arrived in the United States in late 2021. According to Moscogiuri, the last time avian flu had affected commercial farms’ egg-laying hens was in 2015.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, avian flu killed almost 33 million commercial egg layers in 2024.
According to Ryan Hojnowski, an egg expert at the agricultural market research company Expana, this has resulted in a shortage of eggs.
According to CDC estimates, approximately half of the 15 million commercial egg layer deaths in 2024 had happened since October 15. Expana reports that since mid-October, wholesale egg prices have increased by 97%.
If you have one infection, chances are that d— near all the birds are infected, or will be infected in a very short time, said Andrew Novakovic, a professor of agricultural economics at Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.
Thanksgiving, Christmas holidays raise egg demand
Additionally, the shortfall of eggs is accelerating toward the busiest time of year for consumer demand.
Q4 is when we typically see the strongest demand for eggs as consumers tend to bake around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Hojnowski said.
High demand and reduced supply have combined to lift prices, experts said.
When we get past this holiday effect, I think we ll see some [price] softening, Novakovic said.
But the trajectory is difficult to predict, experts said.
For one, bird flu s staying power is unclear. There have been recent outbreaks in U.S. dairy cows, and several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers, the CDC said. As of Dec. 11, the current public health risk was low, however, the CDC websitesaid.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Fridayissueda federal order requiring testing of U.S. milk supply for bird flu, tohelptrack and contain the virus.
Like any infectious disease, it s a little hard to accurately forecast how it s going to progress, Novakovic said.
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