Shell-Shocked: The Increase in Egg Prices

“Did you see how much they’re charging for eggs?” A man said last week at Food Lion. “They’re $14 for 24. Or $8 a dozen.” He went on to say how they were much cheaper from local farms and organic grocery stores.

The egg section at the grocery store was thoroughly picked over and there were stark upcharges on the supply they did have. But why is there a shortage of eggs, why are eggs so expensive all of the sudden, and why would it be less expensive to buy higher quality eggs?

Why Are Egg Prices So High Right Now?

This season, egg production has been hit particularly hard by avian influenza, commonly referred to as the bird flu. The strain is highly contagious and spreads easily in factory farms, where chickens are tightly packed together and live in unsanitary conditions.

Snapshot of factory farm conditions

The eggs of chickens that have been infected with bird flu can not be sold for consumption, which means that major egg farms can not sell a large percentage of their stock. The decrease of supply along with the constant level of demand has caused prices to increase and a nationwide shortage of eggs.

Local egg farms and smaller grocery stores that source organic eggs have only been hit by an increase of demand but no decrease in supply. The organic regulations prohibit some of the farming practices that allowed the bird flu to spread rampantly. Because of this, their prices have remained relatively stable. However, if too many consumers opt to start buying eggs from these locations, their prices may increase slightly.  

When Will Egg Prices Return to Normal? 

Egg prices will likely remain at an increased rate for the rest of the year as the market recovers from the disease; however, by 2026 they should return to prices we are used to. USDA metrics predict that egg prices will return to roughly $2.35 per dozen by the end of the year as the hen population returns to standard size.