Shell-Shocked by Egg Prices? Blame Bird Flu
Are you feeling stunned by the soaring prices of eggs? You're not the only one—but don't point the finger at inflation. While grocery prices have been on the rise due to general economic trends since spring 2021, the doubling of egg prices over the past year can be attributed to a different culprit: bird flu.
An outbreak of bird flu has wreaked havoc on poultry flocks, resulting in the loss of 43 million egg-laying hens in 2022, according to the Department of Agriculture. This devastating egg shortage has led to a significant price increase, with a dozen grade-A eggs reaching $4.25 in December. This is more than twice the average price of $1.79 from December 2021, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The data reveals that while overall grocery prices have seen a rise, egg prices have skyrocketed even more. However, there is a glimmer of hope for egg lovers: the government predicts that egg prices will gradually decrease in the months ahead as farmers work to rebuild their egg-laying flocks.
If you have any questions, thoughts, or stories to share on this topic, feel free to contact Diccon at dhyatt@thebalance.com.
