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The cost of eggs has risen by 30.4% compared to last year, according to the consumer price index. This increase is due to a combination of factors, including a surge in avian flu and the upcoming holiday season. The avian flu has been affecting farmers and the egg supply since January 2022, killing 108 million birds, 75 million of which were laying eggs. This has impacted 8% of the nationwide supply. The virus has seen a recent spike, killing 2.8 million egg-laying birds in key egg-producing states such as Oregon, Utah, and Washington, resulting in a projected loss of about 60 million eggs, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture.
The increased demand from holiday cooking is also contributing to the price volatility. "The holidays are always the highest retail sales season of the year because if you think about your holidays, your baking, your cooking, you're entertaining, all of those require extra eggs," said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, in an interview with the Albany Herald.
The supply of eggs has also been revised down for the first quarter of 2025, which will likely keep prices higher. Some supermarkets are trying to absorb some of the increases for now to avoid reaching a "breaking point" with customers. However, with the average cost of a dozen wholesale large white cartoned eggs on the New York wholesale market being $4.23 as of November 15, a 54% increase on wholesale eggs from the same time last year, grocers are left to decide what price to sell eggs at.