Egg Prices Plummet Amid Avian Flu Recovery
If you've been feeling the pinch at the grocery store, especially in the egg aisle, here's some good news: egg prices dropped sharply last month.
According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, retail egg prices fell by 12.7% compared to March, marking the steepest month-to-month decrease since 1984.
That brought the average cost of a dozen Grade A eggs down to $5.12 – a noticeable drop, though still higher than what we were paying just a year ago.
This retail egg price decline is a small but welcome break from the inflation we’ve been battling over the past couple of years. Still, the egg aisle isn’t back to normal just yet. Here’s more on what’s going on, and what we can expect as the prices – hopefully – continue to fall.
Retail Egg Prices Fall for First Time in Months
A big reason behind the surge in egg price inflation in 2025 has been the ongoing avian flu’s impact on the egg supply. Since early 2022, over 169 million birds have been wiped out due to infections, with entire flocks culled at the first sign of illness to contain the spread. That’s hit the egg supply hard, especially since some commercial farms house millions of egg-laying hens.
In April alone, outbreaks on farms in Ohio and South Dakota led to the loss of more than 927,000 hens. These outbreaks continue to disrupt production and create a lot of uncertainty around the US egg market trends. Even with the recent drop in prices, the average cost of eggs is still 79% higher than it was in April 2024, when you could snag a dozen for just $2.86.
The Egg Industry Recovery Is Underway
Despite ongoing challenges, there's cautious optimism about an egg industry recovery. The federal government has stepped in with a multi-pronged strategy.
In addition to importing hundreds of millions of eggs to ease the shortage, the Trump administration has allocated $1 billion to combat bird flu. That includes investment in biosecurity, relief programs for affected farmers, and vaccine research.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins noted in late March that imports are just a temporary fix. The goal is to rebuild the domestic flock and restore a stable, long-term egg supply. If successful, this effort could eventually bring prices back down to more familiar levels – and keep them there.
Looking Ahead: What We Should Expect
While April’s egg prices drop is encouraging, experts warn against getting too comfortable. Wholesale egg prices have already started to level off since late March, suggesting that April’s plunge might be more of a blip than a trend. The future direction of prices will likely hinge on how well the bird flu is managed in the months ahead.
So, what does all this mean for our grocery bills? For now, the retail egg price decline in April offers some short-term breathing room. But, with the US egg market trends still heavily influenced by disease outbreaks and the slow pace of flock replenishment, we may be in for continued volatility.
The Trump administration’s efforts to stabilize prices and support the egg industry are steps in the right direction. However, unless those efforts result in a more resilient egg supply chain, we could see the prices bounce back up.
In the meantime, let’s savor this egg prices drop and make a few extra souffles because it's uncertain how long this break will last.