Why are eggs so expensive right now?
Egg prices have been fluctuating and trending upward throughout the country for months. In December 2024, shoppers paid an average of $4.15 for a dozen eggs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. That was about 50 cents higher than November 2024, and nearly $1.70 higher compared to the previous December.
The continued global outbreak of bird flu is one of the main reasons egg prices are higher. As the egg supply shrinks, prices go up. But there are other related factors, too:
Inflation: Farmers have to buy things like feed, fertilizer and fuel to run their farms. Because the cost of running a farm has skyrocketed, farmers are charging more for their commodities, according to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware. Then, there are supply chain issues and labor shortages to factor in.
Panic shopping: Eggs are just one of several foods you might not find in your grocery store right now. Higher prices and and unreliable supplies can cause panic, leading shoppers to frantically try to stock up. Instead of picking up one carton with a dozen eggs, some are buying enough to open a small bakery. With eggs already in shorter supply, this type of overbuying only exacerbates the problem.
How long will the high prices last?
The price of eggs will likely keep rising as long as H5N1 continues to sweep throughout the country and decimate flocks. Poultry farmers are working to repopulate flocks and rebuild egg production levels, but that goal is difficult to achieve while bird flu remains out of control.
As noted above, the USDA warns that egg prices might go up by 20.3% in 2025. So, until the egg supply rebounds and prices (hopefully) begin to recover as well, you may want to become familiar with these egg substitutions you can use when baking to help stretch your grocery budget as far as possible.
