The latest data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday, February 12th, revealed that the average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in US cities reached a record high of $4.95 last month, a price that may continue to rise due to the impact of the avian flu epidemic.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in a press release on Wednesday, “This marks the largest increase in egg prices since June 2015 and accounts for two-thirds of the total increase in household food prices for that month.”
This newly released data surpasses the previous record of $4.82 set in January 2023. In December last year, a box of eggs of the same specification had an average selling price of $4.15.
According to The Hill, the main reason for the increase in egg prices is that the avian flu epidemic has resulted in the death of over 100 million egg-laying hens. Experts had predicted in January that egg prices in 2025 could rise by another 20%.
Once avian flu is detected on a farm, it typically requires the culling of all poultry to prevent the spread of the virus.
Furthermore, another factor contributing to the increased costs is that at least ten states have passed laws allowing only cage-free eggs to be sold in stores, such as Oregon, Washington, and California.
In some areas, including California, the price of a dozen eggs has even exceeded $9.
Earlier this month, live poultry markets in New York City and surrounding areas were closed due to seven cases of avian flu.
Even if consumers can afford the price of eggs, it can sometimes be challenging to find them as some stores struggle to maintain sufficient inventory on their shelves. Some grocery stores have imposed limits on the quantity of eggs customers can purchase at once.