Egg prices in the United States have reached a record high due to a bird flu outbreak that has significantly reduced the number of chickens producing eggs.
According to the latest consumer price index, the average price for a dozen Grade A eggs hit $4.95 in January. This breaks the previous record of $4.82 set two years ago. The price has more than doubled since August 2023, when eggs cost $2.04 per dozen. In some cities, a carton of eggs can now cost as much as $10.
The U.S. Agriculture Department expects egg prices to increase by another 20 percent this year, making it even harder for consumers to afford them. Due to the shortage, many grocery stores have started limiting how many cartons of eggs customers can buy.
The bird flu outbreak began in February 2022 and has had a severe impact. More than 111 million birds, mostly egg-laying hens, have been slaughtered to stop the spread of the virus. When a single case of bird flu is detected, all birds on the farm must be killed. This has led to a three percent decline in the total number of egg-laying chickens in the U.S., resulting in a four percent drop in egg production.
California has been hit particularly hard by the shortage. States like California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon require all eggs sold to be cage-free. Some experts believe these cage-free environments may be contributing to the spread of bird flu, as wild birds carrying the virus can infect the flocks. Similar cage-free requirements will take effect in Arizona, Colorado, and Michigan next year, with Rhode Island and Utah following by 2030.
The egg shortage has made it difficult for grocery stores to keep their shelves stocked. Some stores have imposed limits on how many cartons each customer can purchase to ensure more people have access to eggs.
Former President Donald Trump has claimed that he would eliminate inflation if re-elected. During a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, he promised, “We’ll get them down,” referring to high prices. However, some economists warn that his plans, including imposing high tariffs on imported goods and deporting millions of migrant workers, could actually increase inflation and make prices rise even further.
