U.S. retail egg prices took a dip in April after hitting record highs earlier this year. The average price for a dozen Grade A eggs dropped to $5.12 last month, down from the peak of $6.23 in March, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This decline marked the first drop in egg prices since October 2024. Overall, egg prices of all sizes fell by 12.7%, the sharpest monthly decline since March 1984. Despite the decrease, retail egg prices remain relatively high due to an ongoing bird flu outbreak that has been devastating flocks of egg-laying hens.
The price for a dozen large eggs in April was 79% higher than the same month a year ago, when it averaged $2.86 per dozen. Food economics and policy professor David L. Ortega from Michigan State University predicts that egg prices will continue to fall in May and June as consumer demand typically decreases after Easter. The recent decrease in bird flu outbreaks at commercial poultry operations has also helped stabilize the egg supply in the country. However, Ortega warns that the future progress of the virus is uncertain, and prices could rise again if outbreaks resurface.
The impact of bird flu on egg prices is significant, as the virus has led to the deaths of over 169 million birds since early 2022. The need to contain the virus means that whenever a bird falls ill, the entire flock must be culled, leading to a lengthy process of cleaning farms and raising new birds for egg-laying. Even a single outbreak at a large facility can disrupt the egg supply chain, as seen with outbreaks on two farms in Ohio and South Dakota in April that affected over 927,000 egg-laying hens. To combat the outbreak, the U.S. government has invested $1 billion in helping farmers improve biosecurity measures, while also increasing egg imports from countries like South Korea, Turkey, and Brazil to meet demand.
