Reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on avian flu impacts

Egg Prices in US to Hit Record Highs in 2025 Amid Avian Flu and Tight Supply

Jan 26, 2025, 08:00 PM

Egg prices in the United States are expected to reach record highs throughout 2025, driven by an ongoing avian flu outbreak and inflation. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's price outlook, egg prices are projected to increase by about 20% in 2025, significantly higher than the anticipated 2.2% rise in overall food prices. The avian flu has led to the death of millions of egg-laying hens, with approximately 17.2 million hens lost in November and December of the previous year alone. This has resulted in a tight egg supply, with the average price of a dozen large, grade-A eggs rising to $4.15 in December from $3.65 in November. The situation is compounded by the fact that the virus has spread to farms raising young birds, further impacting the future supply of egg-laying hens. New cases of bird flu have emerged in nearly 25 states this month, leading to the euthanization of entire bird populations on some farms, including 3,000 hens at Kakadoodle Farm in Illinois and nearly 100,000 ducks at Crescent Duck Farm in New York. To manage shortages, many grocery stores are implementing limits on egg purchases per shopping trip.