Tue Jan 28 10:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Egg Prices to Remain High in 2025 Due to Avian Flu and Inflation

**Washington, D.C.** – Americans should brace themselves for continued high egg prices throughout 2025, according to new estimates. The ongoing avian flu outbreak, coupled with overall inflation, is driving the cost of eggs significantly higher than other food items.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects a 20% increase in egg prices for 2025, a stark contrast to the projected 2.2% increase for food prices overall. While beef, coffee, and orange juice are also experiencing price hikes, the avian flu’s impact on egg production is uniquely severe.

Recent outbreaks have devastated the egg-laying hen population. In November and December alone, approximately 17.2 million birds – nearly half the total number of birds lost to the virus in 2024 – perished due to the disease. The virus continues to spread, with outbreaks reported in several states including California, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio, resulting in the loss of an additional 8.3 million birds in January.

This significant loss of hens, coupled with persistently high consumer demand (more than 20 consecutive months of record highs, according to the American Egg Board), has created a severely constrained supply. The average price of a dozen large, grade-A eggs reached $4.15 in December, a 36% year-over-year increase. Wholesale prices have also skyrocketed, reaching $7.24 per dozen in New York and $6.84 in the Midwest.

The tight supply has led some grocers to impose purchase limits on eggs, an effort to prevent panic buying, according to the USDA. Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, warns that high egg prices are likely to persist until the avian flu is brought under control. The industry’s struggle to replenish its flocks of young birds exacerbates the problem. The USDA’s egg markets overview reflects the ongoing crisis, highlighting record-high prices held by grocers. The situation is expected to continue until the outbreaks subside.

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