Egg prices in the United States are climbing rapidly and may soon approach record highs last seen during the pandemic, according to industry analysts. The increase is being driven by a severe outbreak of avian influenza and seasonal consumer demand, which has historically spiked during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of a dozen large Grade A eggs reached $3.65 in November 2024, a sharp rise from $2.14 a year earlier.
This 38% annual increase includes an 8% jump in the past month alone. Economists warn that prices could edge toward the January 2023 record of $4.82 per dozen if current trends persist. The ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, is the primary cause of the price surge. Bird flu, a contagious and often fatal disease among poultry, has killed about 33 million commercial egg-laying hens in 2024 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly half of these losses occurred since mid-October, intensifying supply constraints.
“There’s a very real chance we could flirt with record highs,” said Brian Moscogiuri, Vice President of Eggs Unlimited, an egg supplier. Wholesale egg prices have soared 97% since mid-October, reflecting the reduced availability of commercial egg layers. Adding to the supply challenges is the seasonal demand for eggs during the fourth quarter, when holiday baking traditions lead to a surge in consumer purchases. “This is when we typically see the strongest demand for eggs,” explained Ryan Hojnowski, an egg market analyst at Expana. The combination of reduced supply and peak seasonal demand is creating a perfect storm for price hikes, experts said.
The trajectory of the bird flu outbreak remains uncertain. While the CDC has reported recent cases among dairy and poultry workers, the public health risk remains classified as “low.” To address the issue, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has mandated testing of the U.S. milk supply for bird flu as part of efforts to track and contain the virus. Despite these efforts, market analysts warn that the unpredictability of infectious diseases like bird flu complicates forecasting.
“Like any infectious disease, it’s a little hard to accurately predict how it’s going to progress,” said Andrew Novakovic, a professor of agricultural economics at Cornell University. Experts anticipate some relief after the holiday season, but the lingering effects of the bird flu outbreak may keep egg prices elevated into 2025, adding to inflationary pressures already felt by consumers at the grocery store. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.
