Here's how egg prices have increased over the decades
The price of eggs is steepening as bird flu spreads among poultry flocks in the United States. Farmers are grappling with egg shortages, and Americans are feeling the effects of a disrupted supply.
The average price per dozen was $4.10 at the end of 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's twice as much as in August 2023.
An outlook from the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts egg prices will increase about 20% within the year, compared with a predicted 2.2% increase for overall food prices. The USDA says an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, is causing the supply strain.
Here's how the average price for a dozen eggs has changed over the past two decades:
At the beginning of 2023, a dozen eggs cost an average $4.82 – the highest in the past decade – according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Beef, coffee and orange juice also are expected to cost more in 2025, but none will rise to the degree of eggs, according to the USDA's price outlook. The cost of pork is expected to slightly decrease.
Bird flu is the culprit
Over the past three years, bird flu has been reported in more than 145 million birds in 618 counties and all 50 states, according to CDC data as of Jan. 24. Infected birds have been slaughtered across the U.S. to prevent further spread of the virus.
Grocery stores were seeing record-high prices in retail markets nationwide because of significant outbreaks of bird flu in "commercial table egg layer flocks through December," the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service recently reported.
Several states have recently reported a resurgence of the virus, which the USDA reported killed about 17.2 million egg-laying hens in November and December. That accounted for nearly half of all birds killed by the virus in 2024, the federal department said.
When will egg prices decrease?
Supply and prices will stabilize only when farms and producers can recover their stocks from bird flu, according to the USDA's recent forecast.
“No one can predict the future, but bird flu remains an ongoing threat to our egg farms, and egg farmers are working around the clock to protect their birds, replenish supply and keep those eggs coming," Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, told Paste BN in January. "On a positive note, farmers have a lot more experience fighting the disease now, meaning farms are able to recover faster."
CONTRIBUTING Janet Loehrke, Jonathan Limehouse and Mary Walrath-Holdridge