Egg prices are rising as a result of a shortage in the United States. In a number of American cities, the cost of eggs has soared. The New York Times reported that inflation and avian flu are the main causes of the fluctuating egg prices.
In response to a reporter’s query, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused former President Joe Biden of being responsible for the spike in egg prices.
“I am not sure, but egg prices went up 65 percent when Joe Biden was sleeping upstairs or in the Oval Office,” she claimed.
136 million birds have been afflicted or killed by bird flu, which is brought on by the H5N1 virus. About 10% of the country’s egg-laying population has been slaughtered in the last three months to stop the disease’s spread after the outbreak grew worse, according to the New York Times.
According to reports, months will pass before the number of egg-laying chickens available reaches the typical level of about 318 million, or one chicken per person.
Furthermore, wholesale egg costs have sharply increased as a result of the decline in the number of egg-laying birds. According to the New York Times, grocery stores and eateries are now paying a record $7 for a dozen eggs, up from $2.25 last year.
United Egg Producers called on Congress and the incoming Trump administration to act swiftly to develop a national bird flu strategy last week. The group also called for increased financing for possible vaccine development and quicker state and federal testing.
The most recent type of avian influenza, which is deadly to poultry and has also been detected in cattle, is being tracked by federal agencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that pasteurized milk products are still safe to eat and that there is still little risk to humans.
As long as eggs are cooked to the proper temperatures to eradicate bacteria and viruses, the US government believes that they are likewise safe to consume. According to the New York Times, analysts warn that the price will undoubtedly increase and that retail shelf gaps would likely widen.
Prices expected to soar further
Despite Vice President JD Vance’s insistence that egg costs will decline, they are apparently predicted to rise all year long. In a recent interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Vance stated that a decrease in the cost of groceries and gas is anticipated eventually. Vance informed Brennan that although it would take some time, prices would eventually decrease. “The president has only been in office for five days. He has, in my opinion, accomplished more in those five days than Joe Biden has in the previous four.
According to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) price prediction, the price of eggs is expected to rise by over 20% in 2025, while the price of food as a whole is expected to rise by roughly 2.2%. According to the USDA, a bird flu outbreak that put a pressure on supplies is to blame for the skyrocketing prices.
Grocery stores nationwide were seeing record-high pricing due to “significant outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial table egg layer flocks through December,” according to a January 3 USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that by January 17, the virus has really afflicted more than 136 million chickens in 50 US states since January 2022.
Consumers may witness a sharp increase in egg costs starting in December, according to the reports. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of a dozen big, grade-A eggs increased from $3.65 in November to $4.15 in December. According to the Consumer Price Index, the price of eggs increased by almost 36% in December compared to the same month last year.