The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is addressing skyrocketing egg prices by bringing more eggs into the U.S. from abroad. This important move will help boost the egg supply and reduce anxiety for millions of Americans. Wholesale egg prices, a barometer of prices consumers pay, have plummeted in the last few weeks. In New York, the price of a dozen large eggs dropped from $8.53 in late February to a mere $3.93 by March 21. The New York wholesale price, which has become a widely used industry benchmark, is down about 30% since last summer, reflecting today’s real-world shifts in the marketplace.
Egg prices have been quite stable from the 1980s through early 2010s. In reality, the last ten years have seen three historically unprecedented price surges, all sparked by the spread of avian influenza. The virus, which spreads rapidly through commercial flocks, continues to affect poultry populations in parts of the U.S., causing disruptions in supply.
The current bird flu outbreak has already forced producers to cull more than ten million egg-laying hens. Such extreme measures have caused wholesale egg prices to continue to stay close to all-time highs. Currently the price of a dozen eggs hovers at $6. This price is the most Americans have seen in 40 years.
Though wholesale prices have plummeted, grocery store prices still frequently are based on inventory bought weeks in the past, meaning consumers may not see immediate savings show up on store shelves. And with Easter just around the corner, demand for eggs will jump even higher.
"Easter unsurprisingly drives a surge in egg sales, as demand spikes for egg decorating, baking and holiday meals," said Thomas Weinandy, an economist at digital marketplace Upside.
Looking forward, the USDA’s latest forecast expects retail egg prices to be up 41.1% in 2025. This projection underscores deep concern about lasting impacts of avian influenza on the poultry trade. It shows us how these effects are playing out to impact egg prices now.