Egg prices in the United States are predicted to increase by 41.1% in 2025, according to a report released by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins met with poultry farmers and industry leaders focused on avian flu response efforts.
USDA forecasts prices for all food will rise 3.4% this year, up from the expected 2.3% increase last month.
The surge in grocery prices was driven by eggs, which are projected to increase by 41.1% this year, a sharp rise from the previously expected 20.3% increase forecasted last month.
The skyrocketing and volatile egg prices are linked to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has significantly reduced layer flocks and egg production.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that egg prices had continued to surge because “the Biden administration and the Department of Agriculture directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens, which has led to a lack of chicken supply in this country, therefore lack of egg supply, which is leading to the shortage.”
Brooke Rollins also blamed the Biden administration for "overregulation" as the reason egg prices are high, and said it will take some time to bring them down.
"President Trump understands the importance of addressing this issue head on, and USDA is taking action to support farmers, strengthen supply chains, and bring egg prices down,” - she said.
Retail egg prices increased by 13.8 percent in January 2025 after rising by 8.4 percent in December 2024, according to Food Price Outlook for 2025.
Egg prices in January 2025 were 53.0 percent higher than in January 2024 and surpassed the previous peak prices in January 2023.
The national average price for eggs hit $4.95 a dozen for shoppers in January, - according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Retail egg prices continue to experience volatile month-to-month changes due to an outbreak of HPAI that began in 2022.
An increasing number of commercial egg layers are being affected by the bird flu outbreak. The report estimated 18.8 million commercial egg layers were affected by bird flu in January, the report stated.
“Offerings are very light to light with little chance for improvement in the near-term as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to impact productive flocks,” the USDA said in the Feb. 14 report.
In response, President Donald Trump has brokered a deal with Türkiye to import 15,000 tons of eggs, offering temporary relief.
Read next
15:13
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday floated the idea of replacing a visa program for foreign investors with a so-called "gold card" that could be bought for $5 million as a route to American citizenship.
10:23
RUSSIA
By embarking on a path of militarization, Europe has lost its right to claim any involvement in talks related to Ukraine and is heading toward isolation, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated following the adoption of UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on Ukraine
02:00
US-Ukraine Minerals Deal
The agreement could be signed by Kyiv and Washington as early as Friday, according to one report.
09:36
Turkey has begun exporting around 15,000 tonnes of eggs to the United States as a devastating outbreak of bird flu is slashing U.S. production and sending prices soaring, a leading sector official said on Wednesday.
17:06
Israel's Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, is set to travel on an official visit to the United States from February 17 to 20, 2025.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment