Egg Shortage 2023: Why Are Egg Prices Still So Hard To Crack?

By Alex J. Last updated Jan 19, 2023

We went grocery shopping in the Tampa Bay region this week and compared the prices of a dozen eggs at Publix, Sprouts, and Whole Foods. This week, a dozen of Whole Foods’ 365 Everyday Value cage-free big white-grade eggs were the cheapest we could find. The total for a dozen of grade-A eggs was $3.39.

In comparison to the springtime price of $2.79 for a dozen of the same type of eggs, we discovered that the store brand’s cage-free, big, grade AA white eggs were the cheapest option at Sprouts, coming in at $3.49. And at Publix, a dozen of the store brand’s big eggs now cost $5.79, a 70% hike from the $3.39 they cost in the spring of 2017.

The price of a dozen eggs in the United States was $4.25 in December 2022, up 60% from the previous year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and the Consumer Price Index published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Egg Shortage 2023

The egg business was negatively affected by the bird flu epidemic (highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI) in February 2022. The Washington Post reports that the avian flu killed more than 44 million chickens used for egg production.

Business expert at Iowa State University’s Egg Industry Center Maro Ibarburu told The Washington Post that “the flu is the most important factor impacting egg pricing.” This infection caused a loss of 10 million more laying hens than the last outbreak in 2015.

“Egg farms are rebounding swiftly,” Metz added. “In reality, most of this year’s egg farms that were hit hard by HPAI are now producing eggs again. According to the USDA, there are around 6% fewer chickens producing eggs currently than there would be under normal conditions; this means that while egg farms are rebounding swiftly, we are still not completely back to normal.”

The United States Department of Agriculture produced a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document in April 2015 about food safety and the avian flu, which said that properly cooked eggs could not potentially expose humans to the virus.

The USDA has measures in place, including testing of flocks and Federal inspection systems, and the Q&A continues, “The likelihood of infected birds or eggs entering the food chain is extremely low because of the early onset of symptoms in poultry.”

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Why Are Egg Prices Still So Hard To Crack?

In her weekly The Big Squeeze, Emily Stewart, who covers business and economics for Vox, analyses the ways in which regular people are disadvantaged by capitalism. She was at TheStreet before to joining Vox.

A few months ago, in light of the current high-inflation economic climate, I polled Vox readers on the topic of price hikes and asked what they found most troubling. Most people mentioned eggs, which are inexpensive but essential, and whose recent price increases have been particularly frustrating. August of 2022 was the last time something like it happened. The already dire situation with egg prices has worsened.

Inflation is cooling. Why are egg prices still so hard to crack? – Vox https://t.co/wUtPWqkfDh

— Sean Gardner Turner ProChoice Vote Blue Wear AMask (@Allareblessed2) January 17, 2023

Urner Barry, a company that tracks the food commodities market, reports that the average price of a dozen “Midwest big” eggs has risen to $5.46 as of late December 2022, from $0.89 at the beginning of 2020 (before the epidemic hit) to $5.46 in the summer of 2022 (a new high). Prices for eggs have returned to their pre-holiday levels of $3.64 as of January 17th, after having risen to an all-time high during the holiday season. You may also check: Pink Sauce At Walmart

According to Urner Barry’s egg market expert Karyn Rispoli, “there is usually always a reduction in demand following the Christmas baking time,” which leads to lower wholesale pricing. However, “the heights from which the market is adjusting have contributed to a relatively steep collapse this year.”

Egg Shortage Will Not Abate Until Late Summer 2023

Disease, price surges, product shortages, and mass mortality are all inevitable results of commercial egg farms’ abnormal circumstances, as has been prophesied for decades.

The United States‘ leading egg producers are facing unprecedented losses due to a new strain of avian flu that has not yet “jumped” to people. If the bird flu spreads to humans, the authorities will have killed nearly sixty million laying hens to contain the outbreak.

This position is a large part of the problem

We don't need more capacity, we need to abate Covid

When a virus grows exponentially, there is literally no way to build an infrastructure that outpaces it

Much of the shortage is HCWs themselves off sick, it's chicken or egg

— kyle (@notkent) January 3, 2022

In addition to enormous fatalities, the virus has disrupted production. A dozen eggs, if they can even be found, will cost you close to $10 very soon. The backyard coop is the talk of the neighborhood as suggestions for egg substitutes flood social media. In all likelihood, the era of dirt-cheap eggs is passed forever.

For decades, Americans have spent $3 for a dozen nice organic, pastured eggs and enjoyed.$99/dozen eggs. Due to past avian virus outbreaks, general inflation, and the real cost of laying eggs, that price has progressively crept near $2/dozen and $5/dozen for organic throughout the last five years.

For more information visit greenenergyanalysis.com.