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Price a dozen eggs in California has reached nearly $9 a dozen in some areas, as demand continues to rise amid an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu.
In its egg market review last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the California benchmark for large shell eggs rose $0.78 to $8.97 per dozen, due to reduced supply.
These prices can be seen when shopping online eggs in supermarkets throughout the country.
For example, a Walmart in Chico, Calif., on Tuesday night listed a carton of 18 cage-free large white eggs for $9.52, while a dozen of the same variety of high-value eggs were listed for $7.22.
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Large amount of cage free eggs at CostCo, Florida. (Photo by Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Getty Images)
At Safeway in the same city, an 18-count case of Lucerne Farms Eggs Cage-Free Large White Eggs was listed for $12.99, although a dozen were not listed for sale on the retailer’s website.
Walmart and Safeway parent Albertsons did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment on the price of eggs.
“Demand for shell eggs saw a slight increase in the last two weeks of the year, supported by concerns about limited supplies due to ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in laying flocks,” the USDA wrote. “These flock losses, which come at a critical demand point, have lifted wholesale prices above record levels set in December 2022 when HAPI outbreaks had a similar impact on the market.”
The FDA also reported this week that egg production in the USA fell 4% in November as egg prices and bird flu cases continue to rise across the country.
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In this picture you can see test tubes with the inscription “Bird flu” and eggs. (Reuters/Dado Ruvić/Reuters photos)
Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Sector Manager Kevin Bergquist said egg prices are elevated from 2023 due to a combination of seasonal price increases during the holidays and egg supply disruptions due to bird flu.
Prices over the past year have “generally” remained above 2023 prices and even “often exceed 2022 egg prices, when HPAI really captured the egg market,” according to Bergquist.
Wholesale egg prices, which jumped nearly 55% in November, do not necessarily reflect consumer eggs store prices, which can vary greatly.
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In the hands of a woman packing eggs in a supermarket (iStock / iStock)
According to the Consumer Price Index, food prices rose 0.5% in November, with four of the six major grocery groups gaining in price. Eggs showed the biggest increase by a large margin.
The prices of meat, poultry and fish increased in November by 1.7 percent, while the prices of eggs increased by 8.2 percent.
Before the big bird flu epidemic in March 2022, flock numbers were at a level that supported lower egg prices, according to Bergquist. He noted that the wholesale price was less than $1.50 per dozen.
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However, the outbreak disrupted the market, leading to record egg prices in December 2022. The average price corrected to a lower level by 2023 as producers rebuilt their flocks.
FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.
