Egg prices across the United States have experienced a notable decline, continuing a downward trend that follows last year’s national shortage. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average price for a dozen eggs fell by 9% last week, settling at approximately $3. The drop comes as supply chain pressures ease, particularly following the impact of a severe avian influenza outbreak that had previously driven costs up. The USDA’s weekly egg market report, released on Friday, indicated that wholesale prices for graded loose eggs decreased by $0.26 per dozen, reflecting improved production and availability.
Price Declines in Key Markets
Egg prices have fallen across major regional markets, signaling a positive shift for consumers. In New York, the cost of large cartons of eggs dipped nearly 2%, reaching $3.86 per dozen by midweek. The Midwest saw a more significant decrease, with wholesale prices for large white eggs dropping 32% to $3.69 per dozen. Meanwhile, in California, egg prices declined by 18.6%, bringing the cost down to $5.34 per dozen.
The USDA noted that grocery store supplies have significantly improved in recent weeks. Consumers are now seeing fully stocked shelves without the purchase restrictions that were imposed earlier in the year. Previously, retailers such as Kroger, Trader Joe’s, and Costco had implemented limits on egg purchases due to the soaring prices and limited availability, a phenomenon widely referred to as “egg-flation.” Rising transportation and labor costs also contributed to the price surge, but recent reports suggest that the situation is stabilizing.
Reasons for the Price Drop and Future Outlook
The easing of egg prices aligns with a significant decline in bird flu cases, according to the USDA. In March, reported cases of avian influenza fell to 2.1 million, a sharp drop from 12.64 million in February and 23.19 million in January. This decline has alleviated some of the supply constraints that had plagued the industry.
While the price drop offers relief to consumers, the USDA cautions that wholesale price changes typically take up to three weeks to be reflected in retail costs. “Consumers are only now starting to see shelf prices slowly decline,” the agency stated in its latest market update. Although the egg shortage may not be entirely over, current trends suggest that prices may continue to stabilize in the coming weeks, offering hope to both retailers and shoppers looking for relief from high grocery costs.
