Egg prices have skyrocketed due to an ongoing avian flu outbreak in the US, forcing consumers to pay record-high rates for one of their staple protein sources.
The most recent statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in January 2025, the average cost of a dozen Grade A eggs reached an all-time high of $4.95 (₹429.91). With this spike, the price has more than doubled from its August 2023 low of $2.04 (₹176.47).
As egg supply continues to be disrupted by avian influenza, also known as bird flu, prices are surging. Due to the outbreak, the number of egg-laying hens has significantly decreased, driving prices to levels not seen since the 2015 bird flu outbreak.
According to the Consumer Price Index, the cost of eggs has increased by an astounding 65% since January 2024. In certain regions, the price has even increased, reaching $10 (₹867.42) or more for a carton of eggs.
Officially termed as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), the bird flu pandemic has caused officials to kill millions of chickens in an effort to stop the virus’s spread, drastically lowering the supply of eggs. Given that a single outbreak at a big egg farm housing millions of hens can result in enormous losses, this severe action is required.
Consequently, the cost of eggs has gone up, which has led to a general increase in food expenses. Organic and cage-free egg farms, which have also been impacted by the outbreak, are especially hard hit by the avian flu. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that more than 20 million egg-laying chickens were killed in the last quarter of 2024 alone. Even non-caged egg production systems suffered large losses, the survey noted.
Since 2015, when the US last saw a significant avian flu outbreak, the recent increase in egg prices is the biggest. A dozen Grade A eggs cost $4.95 (₹429.91) on average as of January 2025, which was 13 cents more than the previous record of $4.82 (₹417.63). Because eggs have historically been an inexpensive source of protein, the price increase is having a significant impact on American households.
According to a report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, eggs accounted for around two-thirds of the total increase in food prices last month, which is another factor driving up food expenses.
