The cost of eggs continues to hit record highs in the US, with data from the USDA showing wholesale prices above $7.30 for a dozen large white eggs (see data here; click on "Egg Markets Overview"). The figure is up from around $5 at the beginning of the year and almost three times as much year over year.
Primarily driven by the ongoing bird flu outbreak—close to 70 million chickens have been culled since early 2024—the spiraling costs have caused many vendors to enact temporary policies to account for cost. Waffle House added a 50-cent-per-egg surcharge last week, and Trader Joe's announced a one-dozen-per-customer limit nationwide Friday.
Last week, a variant of the H5N1 influenza virus that had been identified in human cases was found circulating in dairy cow herds. To date, health officials say the risk to the public is low, and human-to-human transmission is rare. The US has recorded 67 confirmed cases and one death from the current outbreak.
Learn more about zoonotic (animal-to-human) diseases here.
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