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Rising egg prices are impacting consumers as a traditional Easter custom of decorating and dyeing eggs approaches. The cost of eggs reached unprecedented levels in 2025, presenting affordability challenges, particularly for budget-conscious shoppers. While egg prices have recently experienced a slight decrease, many consumers are still questioning why they remain elevated compared to previous years. This article explores the factors contributing to high egg prices, including the impact of bird flu and potential investigations into market manipulation.
Impact of Avian Flu on Egg Prices
The significant surge in egg prices this year can be attributed to a highly contagious strain of avian influenza. This outbreak resulted in the deaths of approximately 20 million egg-laying hens in the final quarter of 2024 alone.
Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that since early 2022, bird flu has led to the culling of nearly 100 million chickens, turkeys, and other poultry. A large proportion of these culled birds were egg-laying hens, severely diminishing the availability of eggs and causing consumer prices to escalate.
Questions Regarding Bird Flu’s Sole Impact
However, some groups contend that the reduced hen population may not be the only factor responsible for the current egg shortage and high costs. Farm Action, a pressure group, argues in an open letter to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice that avian flu had a “minimal” influence on egg prices.
According to Farm Action: “While avian flu has been cited as the primary driver of skyrocketing egg prices, its actual impact on production has been minimal. Instead, dominant egg producers—particularly Cal-Maine Foods—have leveraged the crisis to raise prices, amass record profits, and consolidate market power. The slow recovery in flock size, despite historically high prices, further suggests coordinated efforts to restrict supply and sustain inflated prices.”
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The U.S. Justice Department has initiated a civil antitrust probe to investigate the reasons behind the elevated prices. The inquiry aims to determine if the egg shortage is potentially linked to collusion among producers and distributors, including major companies such as Cal-Maine Foods Inc. and Rose Acre Farms Inc.
Consumer Demand and Price Tolerance
Regardless of whether the scarcity has been amplified, consumer behavior indicates a willingness to pay higher prices for eggs, at least for the time being. An economics expert suggests that this acceptance of increased prices reflects a heightened market demand for eggs.
David Anderson, an economics and business professor at Centre College, stated, “Some egg sellers may perceive this as an opportune moment to artificially inflate prices. Beyond the real disruption to supply caused by hen losses due to bird flu, the widely publicized egg shortages make consumers more accepting of higher prices. This amplified willingness to pay effectively boosts demand, enabling producers to increase prices. Such practices could maintain elevated egg prices in the immediate future.”
Finding Affordable Eggs
For consumers seeking more affordable egg prices, online resources can offer assistance. Pantry & Larder’s website features a tool called Eggspensive, which monitors the cost of a dozen eggs at Walmart locations across the nation.
The Krazy Coupon Lady is another price tracking website that compares prices from various stores nationwide. It compiles lists of supermarkets providing the most cost-effective eggs. The site also includes a dedicated section for weekly egg sales and promotional deals.
Future of Egg Prices
Predicting precisely when egg prices will return to previous affordable levels is challenging due to numerous unpredictable factors. Recent severe winter weather conditions have contributed to price increases, but bird flu appears to be the predominant factor driving the overall price hike. The most recent USDA Egg Market Overview report, released on April 4th, indicates a marginal decrease in the average price for a dozen eggs in California, now at $5.95. California is among the states most severely affected by bird flu.
Nevertheless, there are indications suggesting potential price normalization later in the year. Mr. Anderson believes future egg prices depend on the trajectory of the bird flu outbreak and the success of repopulating culled hen flocks.
“If the bird flu outbreak does not worsen significantly, I anticipate a downward trend in egg prices,” Anderson stated. “Over time, depleted hen populations will be replenished, new egg sources will emerge in response to the high prices, and consumers with moderate preferences for egg products will adapt to substitutes, particularly in regions with the highest egg prices. These increases in supply and decreases in demand will drive prices down.”
USDA projections suggest that egg prices will begin to decline in the spring. Their monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report anticipates prices to decrease to $3.90 per dozen in the second quarter of 2025 and further to $2.90 in the third quarter. However, continued spread of bird flu cases could still lead to price increases.
Discrepancy Between Egg and Chicken Prices
Consumers may question why chicken prices have remained relatively stable while egg prices have experienced such significant increases in early 2025. The question arises whether bird flu should equally affect both chicken and egg costs. The primary reason for this difference is related to the specific types of poultry involved.
Chickens raised for egg production are distinct from those raised for meat. Egg-laying hens are typically older and, consequently, more susceptible to bird flu. They begin laying eggs at around 18 weeks of age. If a flock of laying hens is decimated, recovery can take at least six months. Younger chickens raised for meat can also contract bird flu but can be replaced much more quickly, within approximately seven weeks.
Historical Egg Price Spikes Due to Bird Flu
This year marks not the first instance of bird flu causing a dramatic surge in egg prices. From late 2014 to June 2015, a prior avian flu outbreak in the U.S. led to a near doubling of egg costs.
USDA data indicates that over 50 million chickens were killed by or euthanized due to bird flu during those seven months. This resulted in the price of a dozen grade A large eggs in the New York market skyrocketing from $1.29 in April 2015 to $2.61 in August. Prices did not revert to previous average levels until early 2016.
The USDA characterized the 2014-2015 bird flu epidemic as “the most significant poultry health crisis in U.S. history,” but the current bird flu outbreak, commencing in 2022, is even more extensive.
Bird Flu Risk to Humans
Bird flu is caused by avian influenza Type A viruses, which circulate among wild aquatic birds and can infect other wild bird species, domestic poultry and various animal species. Although human infections are rare, the current outbreak has been linked to 70 human cases in the U.S. and tragically, one fatality, as of this report.