US Egg Prices Reach All-Time High Amid Bird Flu Crisis
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Synopsis
US egg prices have surged to record highs due to ongoing bird flu outbreaks, resulting in significant losses in laying flocks. The USDA reports wholesale prices exceeding $8 per dozen, impacting the food industry and consumer availability.
Key Takeaways
- US egg prices have hit record levels, exceeding $8 per dozen.
- The egg-laying hen population is the lowest since 2016.
- January egg production saw a 4.2% drop compared to 2024.
- 36 bird flu outbreaks confirmed, leading to 26.8 million bird losses.
- Major retailers are imposing purchase limits due to shortages.
Sacramento (US), Feb 25 (NationPress) Egg prices in the United States have surged to record highs, with wholesale rates exceeding $8 per dozen as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to wreak havoc on commercial laying flocks in various states.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its Chickens and Eggs report on Monday, revealing that the national flock of egg-laying hens fell to 363 million birds in January 2025, marking a 3.8% decrease from the previous year and the lowest count since 2016.
According to the USDA, January's egg production totaled 8.86 billion eggs, a decline of 4.2% from January 2024, representing the lowest monthly output since the last significant bird flu outbreak in 2016.
The USDA's Egg Markets Overview highlighted that shell egg shortages, initially confined to specific regions, are now affecting most major markets. The report stated that spot market bids are frequently exceeding offers by up to a factor of 10, with prices setting new records daily.
As of February 21, prices continued to rise, with the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service reporting wholesale prices for large white eggs delivered to retailers in New York at $8.47 per dozen, while in California, benchmark prices for large eggs hit $9.22 per dozen.
The ongoing crisis has been triggered by persistent outbreaks of HPAI in commercial chicken populations. The USDA's Egg Markets Overview noted that by mid-February, 36 confirmed outbreaks across nine states had led to the loss of 26.8 million birds in 2025 alone.
Most of these losses—19 million birds or 71%—occurred in conventional caged systems, while 7.8 million (or 29%) were from cage-free systems.
These losses translate to 10.4% of the conventional caged layer flock and 7.7% of the non-organic cage-free flock as of early 2025, according to Xinhua news agency.
The situation was particularly dire in January, with the USDA reporting the loss of about 18.8 million table egg layers that month—the highest monthly loss since the outbreak began in 2022.
Economist Bernt Nelson from the American Farm Bureau Federation estimated that 43 million birds were lost in January and February alone, accounting for 25% of all birds affected since the outbreak started in 2022.
Compounding the industry's difficulties, the USDA has dismissed several key personnel involved in the federal response to the avian flu crisis.
This egg shortage is causing significant repercussions throughout the food industry. Waffle House was the first major restaurant chain to impose a temporary surcharge earlier this month, charging an additional 50 cents per egg.
In addition, Denny's, a well-known American diner chain, has begun applying egg surcharges at some of its more than 1,700 locations. Many grocery stores, including Trader Joe's, Costco, and Sam's Club, have also set purchase limits to conserve their existing supplies.
For consumers, this crisis translates into rising prices and potential accessibility issues. The USDA has indicated that grocery stores are limiting customer purchases to extend their available stock. This has heightened consumer awareness of the egg shortage, leading to increased opportunistic buying, further depleting available supplies.
