Why Are Eggs So Expensive Right Now? Shortage and High Costs Explained

Not only popular in its many forms for breakfast but also considered a kitchen staple, eggs are one of the U.S.’s most-bought grocery store items. However, the recent spike in egg prices continues to make this essential food inaccessible for many Americans. Why? Keep reading to find out.

Egg prices in 2024 vs. 2023

Due to avian illnesses, inflation and several other factors, grocery store egg prices have been steadily increasing over the last few years. Let’s take a closer look at the retail rates of eggs in the last two years specifically:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $3.65 in November 2024—a price increase of 28 cents from October 2024.

In 2023, you could secure a dozen Grade A large eggs for an average of $2.07 per carton.

As much as 2023 might be cited as a year of lower egg prices, it is worth noting that in January of that year, eggs were as high as $4.82 per dozen—their highest price in the last two years. 

How has the bird flu impacted egg prices?

One of the leading causes of the recent increase in egg prices is the bird flu, also called avian influenza. 

In 2024, nearly 33 million commercial egg-laying birds were killed by the bird flu. 

This death toll was no small loss. An outbreak of the bird flu in October 2024 resulted in the loss of 2.8 million egg layers in Utah, Washington and Oregon.

Due to the decrease in egg production as a result of the bird flu, the USDA reports that “many grocery retailers have taken steps to limit incentivizing additional consumer purchasing during this time with some placing unit limits per shopping trip.”

How do supermarkets impact egg prices?

Placing unit limits on customers’ egg purchases is not the only way grocery stores impact the sale and consumption of eggs. Individual retailers are also partially responsible for setting prices.

In August of last year, during a case to block Kroger’s merger with Albertsons, Kroger’s senior pricing director reportedly admitted that the company had raised the prices of milk and eggs beyond what inflation demanded.

So, while external factors are surely to blame in part for expensive groceries, the stores themselves also play a significant role in determining your grocery bill. 

Other factors that impact egg prices 

There are several lesser-cited reasons why egg prices have increased in recent times. 

One reason includes an overall decrease in egg production. A USDA report stated that egg production was down by 4 percent in November of 2024. 

Another reason for increased egg prices is a reflection of the market demand during specific times throughout the year. 

For example, eggs are likely to be priced higher during the winter holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas when people are cooking and baking in higher volumes. Between November and December, people are more willing to pay more for the ingredients they need to host and feed their families.