The latest consumer price index said a dozen big grade A eggs scored a new record in January 2024.
A dozen Grade A eggs in cities across the United States cost $4.95, 13 cents higher than their previous record $4.82.
The record was set in January 2023, data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. However, the prices did not stay that high for a long time. By May 2023, the average price for 12 eggs had dropped to $2.67.
Egg prices could rise soon, experts say – why and how much are there?
The average price for 12 eggs rose 80 cents from December to January. In December, the average price for a dozen Grade A eggs was $4.15.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics website averaged June 2024 when eggs were $2.72. The average price for a dozen eggs has not fallen below $2 since January 2022, when it was $1.93 in January 2022.
The average price for a dozen grade big eggs in a US city is a record high of $4.95. (istock)
There are several factors that will encourage increased egg costs: Ongoing Avian flu outbreakTechnically known as “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza” (HPAI), a law that requires grocery stores to sell eggs without cages.
The HPAI outbreak has resulted in record numbers of egg-soaked chickens, the USDA said in a recent report. In the last quarter of 2024, more than 20 million egg-selling chickens were killed to prevent the spread of avian flu.
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“Unlike last few years, in 2024, all major production systems experienced significant losses, including traditional cages, cage-free and certified organic types,” the USDA report states.
Once avian flu is detected, the farm must cull all birds in the flock. This had a devastating effect on the egg industry as it takes about five months for chicken to mature.
If the bird is positive for HPAI, the entire flock should be culled. (Reuters/Dad Luvik/Illustration/File Photo)
Apart from the avian flu, some states have laws that require all eggs to be “cage-free.” This means that birds are not raised in cages. These are usually more expensive than traditional eggs, even when there is no avian flu outbreak.
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Egg expert Lisa Steel told Fox News Digital Chicken raised by pastures These birds, which produce the “gold standard” of eggs, are at a higher risk of disease.
“Poultry acquires HPAI from infected waterfowl (ducks and geese) and seagulls. This can be frequently wet on farms. Therefore, poultry is at a higher risk of HPAI with outdoor or outdoor access. It will be,” said the University of Minnesota's Avian Influenza website.
It is unknown when the price of eggs will fall. (Smith Collection/Gad/Getty Image)
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“Infected poultry can spread disease to new flocks through contact with birds, people, fertilizers and equipment. HPAI viruses are present in bird waste for several months, especially under advanced temperature conditions. It could be,” said the University of Minnesota.
