
Egg prices, which are already quite high, may soon become even more expensive. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $4.15 in December, up from $2.51 in the same month of 2023.
Two key factors are driving the rise in egg prices: the ongoing bird flu epidemic and state regulations mandating cage-free eggs. Patrick Penfield, a professor and expert in supply chain management at Syracuse University, spoke with Nexstar Media and warned that egg prices could jump by as much as 20% before the year concludes.
This would mean the cost of a dozen large eggs could approach $5 by the end of 2025, potentially setting a new record for the highest average price ever seen for eggs. The previous peak occurred in January 2023, when a dozen large eggs averaged $4.82. However, by August 2023, prices had significantly decreased to $2.04 per dozen. Penfield speculated that egg prices could surpass this peak as early as February.
The bird flu outbreak, known scientifically as “Highly pathogenic avian influenza” (HPAI), has caused a historic number of deaths among egg-laying hens, as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the last quarter of 2024 alone, over 20 million hens were lost.
According to the USDA, “Unlike in past years, in 2024, all major production systems experienced significant losses, including conventional caged, cage-free, and certified organic types.” When bird flu is identified on a farm, all affected birds must be culled, which has severely impacted the egg supply since it takes about five months for a chicken to reach maturity.
Penfield explained, “Once a hen is five months old it can lay about one egg per day.” Unfortunately, there are currently no vaccines or medical treatments for bird flu. The only measure of protection is “biosecurity practices”—ensuring chickens stay away from wild birds and humans, keeping enclosures sealed, and minimizing standing water or large puddles.
While Penfield hopes that chickens may eventually develop “some sort of natural immunity,” he warned that it could take many years for this to happen. “We have not seen that yet and it will take many years for that to happen,” Penfield told Nexstar. “Also, if they do, we do not know if this immunity would protect hens if the bird flu virus mutated.”
Beyond the bird flu issue, several states have passed laws requiring that all eggs sold must come from “cage-free” systems, where hens are not confined in cages. These eggs typically cost more than conventional ones, even without the added burden of an outbreak.
Egg expert Lisa Steele shared with Fox News Digital that pasture-raised chickens produce the “gold standard” of eggs, but these hens are at a higher risk of disease. According to the University of Minnesota’s avian influenza page, “Poultry get HPAI from infected waterfowl (ducks and geese) and gulls, which may frequent wetlands on farms. Thus, poultry raised outdoors or with outdoor access are at greater risk of HPAI.”
The risk of infection doesn’t stop there. “Infected poultry can spread disease to new flocks through contact with birds, people, manure and equipment. HPAI viruses can exist in bird waste for several months, especially under high-moisture and low-temperature conditions,” the University of Minnesota added.
{Matzav.com}
And yet…as noted in previous years…no actual shortage of eggs on the sheves…just higher prices!??!
I just bought a dozen extra large eggs in ShopRite of Avenue I for $3.99. Now it’s very tricky. There is a lot of bait and switch going on. The prices posted on the huge refrigerated bin are not necessarily the price for the eggs that are actually there. You’ve got to check the real price by the price scanner. The ones I found for $3.99 are bowl & basket “cage free” grade A extra large, in the PLASTIC container. NOT the cardboard. The exact same thing in the cardboard box is $6.79. ganovim mamish
So, tell me, how did our ancestors just a few generations ago survive, living on farms or buying non-industrialized eggs from the same sources? You would think that they and their “flocks” of pasture grazing hens would have been constantly decimated by these “plagues”.
Good Point!!! It’s hard not to wonder where Greed fits into this Rise in cost???
What’s the difference between Egglands Best and Jack’s egg farm? One is owned by a Yid with a beard and payos?
Rich get richer, which brand is frum owned?
As a separate and general question, why are extra large Jack Eggs selling for $7 a dozen in our grocery stores if the national average price for large eggs is reportedly $4.15 a dozen? Maybe the grocery stores should sell the large size rather than extra large? What’s missing here?
National average does not take in the price disparities of different locations.
In NYC eggs are averaging $7-8 a dozen, while in states with lower purchasing power may be averaging $3-4 a dozen. Everything is more expensive in NY vs the national avg.
I think it’s because urban areas such as big cities don’t have local egg farms nearby, so grocery stores must ship the eggs from a long distance away, while rural cities purchase eggs from farms close by , and therefore, at a lower cost. So the “Average Cost” is simply taking into consideration both considerations.
It’s the same with beer prices in Seaside Oregon. I can purchase a 24oz can of beer from one local store paying $2.49, and then go to a different mini mart across town and pay $3.39 for same can of beer. I was told by one store employee it’s sometimes just depends on the distributor selling beer?
Eggs-asperating
Dr. Egg. National average being @ $3-$4 a dozen for large size and NY being nearly double @ $7-$8 (with NY being a high impact on the average), for extra large eggs would imply that there are areas where eggs are far lower than the national $3-$4 average. Where across the USA are there prices @ $1-$2 a dozen? Why aren’t our groceries down sizing their offered egg product to large size eggs which might be cheaper than $7-$8 a dozen.