To state the obvious: Eggs are expensive.
Consumers are feeling the pinch from the increasing cost of everyday expenses. But while inflation is causing goods and services to rise in general, the spike in egg prices has another culprit—highly pathogenic avian influenza.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, HPAI has affected more than 166 million birds across the U.S. since 2022. In January and February alone, the U.S. lost about 43 million birds to the disease.
These numbers include turkeys and poultry raised for meat, but egg layers have been the most impacted. Infected birds are depopulated to contain the virus, and the resulting production declines have tightened supply and sharply pushed up egg prices.
The USDA reports that prices in January were 53 percent higher compared to the same time last year.
“Egg supplies are tight right now due to avian influenza, but the U.S. is still producing enough total eggs to meet normal demand,” said Tony Banks senior assistant director...