Egg prices in the US soared to a record $6.23 amid shortages and Easter demand
Egg prices in the US have surged again: ahead of Easter, the cost of a dozen eggs reached a record $6.23 due to avian flu outbreaks and rising demand.
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In March, the average cost of a dozen eggs in the US reached a record $6.23, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This marks a significant increase from $5.90 in February.
The main reason was a drop in supply caused by avian flu outbreaks. Additional pressure came from high seasonal demand ahead of Easter, which falls on April 20 this year.
Donald Trump’s administration had previously warned of a potential price spike and attempted to stabilize costs by increasing egg imports.
However, as noted by agricultural economist Jada Thompson from the University of Arkansas, wholesale prices only began to fall in mid-March, leaving little time for retailers to adjust their prices.
Although overall inflation dropped to 2.4% in March, the rising cost of basic foods like eggs remains a sharp social and political issue.
The new round of tariffs imposed by Trump on April 2 may again accelerate inflation, despite a temporary pause on additional duties.
According to the official report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices rose by 0.4% in March, with grocery store prices up 0.5%.
Eggs showed the largest increase — up 5.9%, followed by meat, poultry, and fish at 1.3%, beef at 1.2%, and dairy products at 1%.
Over the past year, egg prices have jumped by 60.4%, while the entire meat and fish category rose by 7.9%. Meanwhile, vegetable prices dropped by 0.5%, with lettuce down 3.5%. Food away from home also became more expensive — up 0.4% for the month and 3.8% year-over-year.