Egg shortages, price hikes, and purchase restrictions are plaguing supermarkets across the U.S., with consumers facing record-high prices in early 2025. The situation is largely driven by avian flu outbreaks and supply chain challenges, leaving households, businesses, and farmers grappling with rising costs.
Why Are Egg Prices So High?
1. Deadly Avian Flu Outbreaks
A major factor behind the egg price surge is the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. Known as H5N1, this strain of bird flu has devastated poultry flocks since 2022, killing over 139 million birds in the U.S., including Puerto Rico, according to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
In December 2024 alone, H5N1 led to the death of 13.2 million egg-laying hens, severely affecting egg production.
- Why the mass culling? Anytime the virus is detected on a farm, the entire flock must be slaughtered to prevent further spread. Since some farms house more than a million chickens, just a few infections can trigger massive supply disruptions.
- The bigger picture: “The industry is like a game of whack-a-mole,” said Ricky Volpe, professor of agribusiness at Cal Poly State University. “As soon as one outbreak is resolved, another one pops up somewhere else.”
2. Transportation and Truck Driver Shortages
Another key contributor is the persistent shortage of truck drivers. Fewer drivers mean higher shipping costs, especially for perishable products like eggs that require refrigerated trucks.
“Refrigerated truck transportation is a major pain point in the food supply chain right now,” Volpe explained. “Even before the avian flu crisis, trucking issues were making egg deliveries challenging.”
How Much Have Egg Prices Increased?
Egg prices have risen dramatically over the past few years:
- December 2024: A dozen large, grade-A eggs cost $4.15 on average, up 14% from $3.65 in November.
- 2023 vs. 2024: Prices increased by more than 60% compared to the year before.
- Since 2019: Prices have skyrocketed by 160%, up from just $1.41 per dozen.
The USDA predicts egg prices will rise another 20% in 2025, signaling that relief for consumers is not coming anytime soon.
Why Are Prices Higher in Some Stores Than Others?
Consumers are reporting wildly different prices for eggs, with some paying up to $8 per dozen, while others find eggs for $4 or less. The disparity is often due to strategic pricing by retailers.
Some stores offer eggs at a loss to lure customers into buying other items like milk, bread, and vegetables, which have regular profit margins.
“Retailers use eggs as a competitive tactic to increase foot traffic,” said Volpe. “If you find cheap eggs, you’re likely making up the cost in other parts of your grocery bill.”
Egg Prices Hit Restaurants Hard
Restaurants, especially diners that rely on eggs for many menu items, are struggling to keep prices affordable without passing costs onto customers.
Montague Diner in Brooklyn, New York, which uses hundreds of eggs a day, has found creative ways to cut costs elsewhere while shielding customers from price hikes.
“Eggs are central to us—we’re a diner,” said co-owner Kip Green. “We don’t want to stop serving egg plates or make customers pay more, so we figure out how to cut costs in other areas.”
Potential Solutions to the Crisis
1. Replenishing Egg Supplies
Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to rebuild chicken flocks. A broiler chicken reaches maturity in about six weeks, and egg-laying hens can start producing market-ready eggs daily within a short period.
- However, persistent outbreaks of H5N1 are preventing sustained recovery, keeping prices high.
2. Sourcing Eggs Locally
Volpe suggests that grocery stores and wholesalers source eggs locally whenever possible. Small, local egg producers are often better insulated from large-scale issues like avian flu and national transportation challenges.
“Local suppliers can provide stability when national supply chains face disruptions,” Volpe said.
White House Response
At her first press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced questions about rising egg prices and shortages, with some critics blaming the new Trump administration.
Leavitt pushed back, suggesting the issue is partly due to the previous administration’s policies:
“The Biden administration and the Department of Agriculture directed the mass killing of 100 million chickens,” she said, without directly addressing the role of avian flu.
Leavitt also emphasized that President Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, is working on plans to stabilize egg prices.
Will Prices Come Down Soon?
Experts warn that prices may remain high throughout 2025 due to ongoing outbreaks and lingering supply chain issues. However, if the avian flu subsides and local sourcing increases, consumers may see some relief later in the year.
“Historically, what goes up must come down in the egg industry,” Volpe noted. “But with this game of whack-a-mole, it’s hard to say exactly when.”
Egg prices in the U.S. have reached historic highs, driven by the deadly H5N1 avian flu and logistical challenges in the food supply chain. With the crisis affecting restaurants, households, and retailers, experts predict further price hikes in 2025. However, local sourcing efforts and rebuilding flocks may offer some hope for price relief in the future.