The USDA released its most recent egg market news report on Jan 7, 2025, and it shows that the increased prices of shelled eggs, which began skyrocketing in December of 2024, have yet to come down in the new year.
Despite the most recent surge in egg prices beginning in the holiday season, the reasons for increases extend far beyond the time of the year. We chatted with egg experts to sort out why the price of eggs is so high, why the price of eggs fluctuates and what you can do as a shopper to save money on eggs.
The USDA’s 2024 Food Price Outlook revealed that retail egg prices were 37.5% higher in November of 2024 than in the same month of the previous year. And a December 2024 outbreak of avian flu drove the price even higher.
Related: Wait, Are Eggs Dairy?
What Affects Egg Prices?
While supply and demand impact egg prices the most, there's also a hefty cost to produce them.
Another factor could be consumers’ move to vegetarian diets. Steele says that, “the increased interest in vegetarian diets, or those trying to limit the red meat, has also put a higher demand on the egg market, coupled with rising prices for beef and chicken, more people are turning to eggs as a more affordable protein source.”
So what can you expect for the rest of the year? It's hard to say. Every time there's a notable outbreak, the industry has to recover from the chickens lost. "Since a hen doesn't start laying until she's about 5 months old, it will take those farms a long time to replace those laying birds," says Steele. The USDA's production reports are forecasted downward for 2025, meaning that they predict it could take a bit to recover from the recent damage to the nation's flocks.
Related: The Absolute Best Way to Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs
Tips to Save Money on Eggs
Swap your protein sourceSave with egg couponsFind a good deal and freeze eggsShop store brands (Aldi fans are often posting about egg deals on Reddit)Watch for sales
Sources:
Emily Metz, President & CEO of the American Egg BoardLisa Steele, 5th generation chicken keeper, founder of the Fresh Eggs Daily blog, author of The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook, and host of “Welcome to My Farm” on CreateTV and American Public TelevisionUSDA.gov, Egg Market News ReportUSDA.gov, Food Price Outlook 2024-2025USDA.gov, Egg Markets OverviewUp next: The Best Way to Make Smooth, Fluffy, Never-Ever Lumpy Deviled Egg Filling
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