Egg prices continue to climb
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI, continue to drive egg prices to record highs across the U.S., said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
A dozen large eggs reached an all-time high average price of $6.14 on Jan. 18. Experts aren’t sure when prices will stabilize and start falling due to ongoing HPAI outbreaks impacting egg production. (Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife) David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan- College Station, said egg prices have skyrocketed to record highs due to ongoing supply disruptions caused by HPAI outbreaks in commercial laying flocks.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reporting “sporadic outbreaks” within commercial meat and egg production flocks.
Since Feb. 8, 2022, more than 134.7 million birds have been lost across 1,410 flock outbreaks, including 637 commercial and 773 backyard flocks, in every U.S. state, according to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
W holesale prices for large Grade A eggs hit an all-time high of $6.14 per dozen on average nationally Jan. 18, according to the latest USDA report. For perspective, the previous price peak for the same dozen eggs was $5.38 in December 2022 and $2.20 per dozen in January 2023.
Similarly, the price peak in 2023 was related to HPAI outbreaks in poultry flocks, Anderson said.
““There is seasonality to egg prices based on demand, but the cutting of supplies, in this case by disease, has driven prices higher. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go higher in the next report, but there is price volatility when you consider the supply and demand factors in play,” he said.