Egg prices will climb even more this year, USDA says: See the data

The Agriculture Department predicts the current record prices for eggs are going to get much worse this year.

This comes as the Trump administration is laying out its new plan of attack to control the spread of bird flu. 

Here’s what to know: 

Bird flu outbreak

The backstory:

The outbreak began in 2022 and has led to the killing of 166 million birds across the country to help control the virus. 

According to the Associated Press, the federal government has already spent almost $2 billion on the bird flu response.

Skyrocketing egg prices

Big picture view:

The main reason egg prices have soared is because the deaths of the 166 million birds has led to a reduction in supply. Most of the birds killed have been egg-laying chickens. 

January was the worst yet for egg farmers with nearly 19 million egg-laying chickens slaughtered.

By the numbers:

January’s consumer price index reported the average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95, surpassing the previous record of $4.82 from two years earlier and more than double the low of $2.04 that from August 2023.

Though the average price conceals just how bad the situation is. Some consumers are paying more than a dollar an egg in some places.

Egg prices will get worse in 2025

What they're saying:

The USDA predicted this week that egg prices will soar more than 41% this year on top of the record average price of $4.95 per dozen.

By the numbers:

That means egg prices could top out at an average of nearly $7 per dozen. 

Local perspective:

High egg prices are already hurting consumers and have prompted restaurants like Denny's and Waffle House to add surcharges on egg dishes.

RELATED: How to save money at the grocery store: Survey found these top ideas

Fighting bird flu

What's next:

The USDA will invest another $1 billion on top of the roughly $2 billion it has already spent battling bird flu since the outbreak began in 2022.

By the numbers:

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins offered the first new details about her bird flu plan Wednesday:

• $500 million to help farmers bolster biosecurity measures
• $400 million in addition aid for impacted farmers
• $100 million to research and potentially develop vaccines

The administration is also in talks to import about 70 million to 100 million eggs from other countries in the coming months, Rollins said.

Timeline:

Rollins acknowledged that it will take some time before consumers see an effect at the checkout counter. After all, it takes infected farms months to dispose of the carcasses, sanitize their farms and raise new birds. 

What they're saying:

She expressed optimism that the changes will help prices.

"It’s going to take a while to get through, I think in the next month or two, but hopefully by summer," Rollins said.

Other food costs in 2025

The USDA gave its predictions for the price of several other grocery staples in 2025:

• Beef, veal: 3.2% increase
• Pork: 1.2% increase
• Poultry: No change on average
• Fresh fruits: 2.4% increase
• Sugar and sweets: 6.4% increase 

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