Avian Flu Drives Egg Prices Sky High: What Consumers Can Do
By Egg prices have been steadily increasing in the U.S. this year and the main culprit is the avian flu.[0] The highly pathogenic avian influenza has caused the death or euthanization of 58.24 million poultry birds in the U.S. since February 2021.[1] The cost of eggs has seen the biggest increase of all food items at the grocery store in the past year, leaving consumers attempting to adjust to the rising prices.[2] The average retail cost in the US for a dozen eggs has more than tripled going from $1.72 in November 2021 to a record-breaking $5.59 in November 2022.[3] According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of eggs has increased by almost 60% in the last twelve months.[4]
Part of the price hike is due to the increased cost of feed and production for farmers, as well as the spread of avian influenza around the country. Shipping feed to Hawaii has also increased prices, as has the uptick in demand for locally produced eggs.[5] Customers have been struggling to keep up with the high prices and the egg market is ruffled by short supply.[6]
Alternative solutions such as buying chickens to avoid high egg prices have been suggested, but experts have pointed out that the savings are minimal and it is not a viable option for most people.[7] The avian flu is a difficult virus to deal with and vaccine development is a slow process.[8] As of now, it is difficult to predict when egg prices will go down but shoppers can take comfort in the fact that prices are down more than 40% from their December peak.[9]
0. “Egg shortage cracks down on Gainesville consumers and businesses” WUFT, 3 Feb. 2023, https://www.wuft.org/news/2023/02/02/egg-shortage-cracks-down-on-gainesville-consumers-and-businesses/
1. “Egg price sticker shock egg-sploding | Pets” City-sentinel, 2 Feb. 2023, https://www.city-sentinel.com/townnews/pets/egg-price-sticker-shock-egg-sploding/article_b8b671b8-a34c-11ed-bc23-d3cf46c22686.html
2. “What's causing the price of eggs to skyrocket nationwide | PBS NewsHour” MetroFocus, 31 Jan. 2023, https://www.thirteen.org/programs/pbs-newshour/eggflation-1675118805/
3. “How 2 Maine stores are dealing with wildly fluctuating egg prices” Bangor Daily News, 31 Jan. 2023, https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/01/31/business/maine-stores-wildly-fluctuating-egg-prices-joam40zk0w
4. “Raising Chickens for Cheaper Eggs Gets Expensive Fast” The Wall Street Journal, 31 Jan. 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/raising-chickens-egg-prices-coop-cost-11675113477
5. “High mainland egg prices place demand on Hawaii farms” KHON2, 2 Feb. 2023, https://www.khon2.com/local-news/high-mainland-egg-prices-place-demand-on-hawaii-farms/
6. “Steeper by the dozen: Avian flu sends egg prices soaring” Press Herald, 1 Feb. 2023, https://www.pressherald.com/2023/01/31/no-yolk-avian-flu-forces-mainers-to-count-their-chickens-carefully
7. “Small businesses scramble to secure eggs with short supply, skyrocketing prices” KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas, 1 Feb. 2023, https://www.ktnv.com/news/small-businesses-scramble-to-secure-eggs-with-short-supply-skyrocketing-prices
8. “Backyard Chickens Won't Save You From High Egg Prices” The Takeout, 2 Feb. 2023, https://thetakeout.com/inflation-egg-prices-vs-raising-backyard-chickens-info-1850061731
9. “Florida ranks as second most-expensive state to buy a dozen of eggs” FOX 13 Tampa, 31 Jan. 2023, https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-ranks-as-second-most-expensive-state-to-buy-a-dozen-of-eggs
