Remember the toilet paper shortage?
How about yeast and flour?
Welcome to an egg shortage.
An outbreak of bird flu in 2022 caused egg prices to skyrocket, hitting an average high of $4.82 in January 2023, according to Forbes.
Consumers today are now finding bare shelves where eggs used to be, and some stores are limiting how many cartons can be purchased. Some restaurants are adding a surcharge for egg dishes.
Even thieves are getting in on the the act. About 100,000 eggs were stolen from a trailer in Pennsylvania. Value was set at $40,000.
How much are egg prices supposed to go up in 2025? Brace yourself
According to the Department of Agriculture’s price outlook, egg prices are predicted to increase about 20% in 2025, compared to a 2.2% increase for overall food prices.
Eggs cost 36.8% more in December 2024 than they did in December 2023, but prices were still below the peak in January 2023, according to the USDA.
The outlook said retail egg prices climbed 8.4% in December 2024 and continued to experience “volatile month-to-month changes.”
The average cost of one dozen Grade A large eggs in December across the U.S. was $4.15 — up from $2.52 at the start of 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank.
Is bird flu really the reason egg prices are going up?
The USDA attributed the rise in egg costs to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, which has caused a strain in supply.
The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed 67 cases of people with bird flu in the U.S., including one death in Louisiana.
During the past three years, bird flu has been reported in more than 145 million birds in 618 counties and all 50 states, according to CDC data as of Jan. 24.
Map: Confirmed cases of human cases of bird flu since 2024
Is there a shortage of eggs or is it panic buying?
Consumers are creating a shortage because of an issue that’s both real and perceived, similar to what has happened with toilet paper in the past, said Saloni Vastani, an associate professor of marketing at Emory University.
“Egg prices are going up because of the avian flu, but that’s driving people to buy more eggs than they usually do because they’re anticipating higher prices and reduced grocery store supply,” Vastani told USA TODAY.
That constrains the supply both because of bird flu, which results in some eggs being destroyed before they reach store shelves, and over-buying by some shoppers, she said.
“And as shelves empty, there’s more panic and more of a rush to buy more eggs,” said Vastani.
Why are egg prices so high?
Comparing egg prices from December to December 2023, the latest price information available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, egg prices have increased nationwide by 65.1%.
The average cost in December 2024 for a dozen Grade A eggs in the U.S. was $4.15 compared to $2.51 in December 2023.
According to a USDA report out Jan. 24, retail egg prices increased by 8.4% in December 2024 and continue to experience volatile month-to-month changes.
Compare egg prices at Walmart, Publix in Florida
Walmart
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Egglands Best Grade A Cage Free Large Brown Eggs: $6.06
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Egglands Best Large White Eggs: $5.77
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Great Value Large White Eggs: $5.46
Publix
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Egglands Best Grade A Cage Free Large Brown Eggs: $6.99
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Publix Large White Eggs: $5.65
Compare Florida egg prices to other stores in US
Compare the price of a dozen eggs at these locations around the U.S.:
Vero Beach, Florida
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Walmart
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Egglands Best Grade A Cage Free Large White Eggs: $6.06
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Egglands Best Large White Eggs: $5.77
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Publix
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Egglands Best Grade A Cage Free Large Brown Eggs: $6.99
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Publix Large White Eggs: $5.65
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Santa Clara, California
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Walmart
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Egglands Best Grade A Cage Free Large Brown Eggs: $9.26
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Egglands Best Grade A Cage Free Large White Eggs: $9.20
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Lubbock, Texas
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H-E-B
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Cage Free Extra Large White Eggs: $6.95
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Cage Free Large White Eggs: $6.53
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Walmart
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Eggland’s Best 100% USDA Organic Certified Large Brown Eggs: $6.14
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Eggland’s Extra Large White eggs: $3.62
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Shelby, North Carolina
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Ingles
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Large White Eggs: 3.98
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Extra Large White Eggs: $4.28
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Walmart
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Large White Eggs: $5.47
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Extra Large White Eggs: $5.73
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Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania
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ShopRite
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Large White Eggs: $5.47
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Walmart
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Large White Eggs: $5.49
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Knoxville, Tennessee
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Kroger
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Large White Eggs: $4.79 each
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Extra Large White Eggs: $4.99 each
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Walmart
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Large White Eggs: $5.77
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Extra Large White Eggs: $5.86 each
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Phoenix, Arizona
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Fry’s/Kroger
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Eggland’s Best Cage Free Large White Eggs: $4.39
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Eggland’s Best Cage Free Extra Large White Eggs: $4.79
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Walmart
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Eggland’s Best Cage Free Large White Eggs: $6.02
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Reno, Nevada
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Safeway
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Large White Eggs: $5.99
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Extra Large White Eggs: $6.99 each
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Walmart
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Large White Eggs: $5.42
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Extra Large White Eggs: $5.52
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Are Walmart, Sam’s Club limiting egg purchases?
“Walmart does not currently have a purchase limit on eggs, and although supply is very tight in some areas, we’re working with suppliers to try and help meet customer demand, while striving to keep prices as low as possible,” the spokesperson told USA TODAY.
Sam’s Club, however, is setting limits on egg purchases.
“We continue to limit the number of egg purchases to two per item. And we’re working with our suppliers to meet demand and continue delivering value to our members,” the retailer said in a statement.
Is Publix limiting egg purchases?
“Like many retailers, we are experiencing shortages on eggs due to the Avian Bird Flu (HPAI), which has created a rise in egg demand,” according to Lindsey Willis, Publix media relations manager.
“As a result, items in this section have limited availability. We are working to bring these products back as soon as possible. We encourage customers to check back regularly, as our stores are receiving routine deliveries.”
Waffle House adding ‘egg surcharge’
The Georgia-based diner has implemented a new 50-cent per egg surcharge at its roughly 2,100 locations across the U.S., the chain said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The temporary charge went into effect Feb. 3 and is the result of the “continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (Bird Flu)” that has caused a “dramatic increase in egg prices.”
“Rather than increasing prices across the menu, this is a temporary targeted surcharge tied to the unprecedented rise in egg prices,” the statement said.
Waffle House serves around 272 million eggs per year, according to its website.
Cracker Barrel tells its customers it won’t add egg surcharge
“At Cracker Barrel, country hospitality is as important to us as a hearty breakfast — and that means not charging extra for eggs,” the restaurant and gift store chain said in a statement to USA Today.
In fact, rewards members will earn “double pegs” on all egg dishes through Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Cracker Barrel said on its website it serves about 162 million eggs every year.
What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?
While it’s uncommon for bird flu viruses to jump to humans, humans can contract the disease through the mouth, eyes, or nose. In most cases, people have inhaled the virus after coming into contact with an infected animal, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of bird flu in people include:
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Mild symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, eye infections (conjunctivitis, or pinkeye), runny or stuffy nose, fatigue and muscle aches.
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Severe symptoms: shortness of breath, high fever (100 degrees or higher), pneumonia (requiring hospitalization) and severe repertory disease.
Is there a difference between brown and white eggs? Are brown eggs healthier?
Except for the color of the shell, there is little difference between brown and white eggs, according to eggs.ca. The color of the shells depends on the breed of the hen laying the egg.
“Generally speaking, white shell eggs come from hens with white feathers, while brown shell eggs are produced by hens with brown feathers. Nutritionally, both brown and white eggs are identical unless the feed has been enhanced for specialty eggs such as Omega-3,” eggs.ca said.
Contributors: Anthony Robledo, Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Janet Loehrke, Peggy Santoro, Shelby Slade, Allison Kiehl, Maria Francis, Joyce Orlando, Brandi Addison, USA Today Network
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Egg prices, shortages, surcharge, panic buying. Bird flu cases
