Egg prices have reached record highs in the US amid the ongoing bird flu epidemic in the country, the Associated Press reported, BTA reported.
The latest monthly consumer price index shows that the average price for 12 grade "A" eggs in US cities reached $4.95 in January, exceeding the previous record of $4.82 set two years ago and more than double the low of $2.04 recorded in August 2023.
The increase in egg prices is the largest since the last outbreak of bird flu in the country in 2015. and accounts for about two-thirds of the total increase in food costs last month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
But that's just the average price of eggs in the country, the AP notes. A carton of eggs can cost $10 or more in some places, and organic and free-range eggs are even more expensive. Prices are not expected to fall yet, as they typically spike around Easter due to holiday demand. The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that egg prices will likely rise 20 percent this year.
Even if shoppers can afford eggs, they can sometimes have difficulty finding them. Some grocery stores are having trouble keeping their shelves stocked, and customers are facing surcharges and limits on the number of cartons they can buy at one time.
The main reason for the rise in egg prices is the bird flu outbreak. When the virus is detected on a farm, all the birds are killed to limit the spread of the disease. Huge egg farms can have millions of birds, and just one outbreak can disrupt the egg supply. Nearly 158 million birds have been culled in total since the outbreak began. The Department of Agriculture says more than 23 million birds were killed last month and more than 18 million in December to limit the spread of the virus. Those numbers include turkeys and chickens raised for meat, but the vast majority are laying hens.