US egg prices have surged to a record high of $6.23 per dozen, dealing a blow to hopes of affordable eggs by Easter. The increase in the Consumer Price Index reflects rising demand and limited supply, despite wholesale prices falling in March.
Industry experts attribute the price spikes to bird flu outbreaks that killed over 30 million chickens in January and February. Although no new outbreaks were reported in March, the farms affected have been slow to resume production due to sanitizing and raising new flocks. The US Department of Agriculture reported only about 285 million hens laying eggs nationwide as of March 1.
President Trump’s plan to strengthen egg farmers’ defenses against bird flu may be a long-term solution but has not yielded immediate results. Experts warn that the current price hike is likely to continue until after Easter, when demand for eggs typically subsides.
Regional variations in prices have been observed, with some states requiring cage-free eggs leading to higher prices. The investigation into Cal-Maine Foods, which supplies 20% of the nation’s eggs, may shed more light on the cause of these price hikes.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/egg-prices-bird-flu-cpi-b0ded420e9f7c0a707277c9c63396a76