NEW YORK: If you’ve been to the grocery store lately and nearly dropped your shopping basket at the price of eggs, you’re not alone. Egg prices in the US have skyrocketed, and it’s not just inflation to blame—there’s a much bigger problem.
A massive outbreak of avian flu has swept across the country, wiping out over 14.7 million egg-laying hens since January alone. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), this surpasses the total losses in all of 2023. The result? A serious egg shortage.
“Supply just isn’t keeping up with demand,” says Karyn Rispoli, a pricing expert at Expana. The number of table eggs produced in December dropped 4.5% compared to last year, and with more hens affected in January, prices are expected to climb even higher.
Right now, wholesale egg prices are hitting jaw-dropping levels—$7.24 per dozen in New York, $6.84 in the Midwest, and a whopping $8.35 in California. Even though grocery stores often sell eggs at a loss to attract customers, prices at checkout have still surged from around $2.50 a year ago to over $4 today.
The price surge isn’t just hitting home cooks—restaurants and bakeries are struggling, too, as they rely on bulk egg purchases. And social media is flooded with videos of shoppers shocked at $15 cartons.
With no quick fix in sight, one thing’s clear—your morning omelette just got a lot more expensive.
-Agencies
