The wholesale price of eggs has dropped sharply since March, but it may take several weeks for grocery shoppers to see the decline, according to experts. The national average price of a dozen large white eggs fell to over $4 from more than $8 in February, largely due to a combination of factors including bird flu’s coming under control, weaker consumer demand, and ramped-up supply.
Bird flu has forced egg producers to cull tens of millions of hens since late last year, but its impact on prices is expected to fade. Retailers may take longer to adjust their prices, with some stores not lowering them until their current inventory sells out. Economists note that prices may vary across the country, depending on local competition and grocery chains’ strategies.
High demand for eggs leading up to Easter may keep prices elevated, but experts expect a decline in wholesale prices to trickle down to retailers. President Trump has highlighted the drop in egg prices, citing it as a positive trend, despite his sweeping tariffs which have sparked concerns about an uptick in prices for various products, including groceries.
The bird flu epidemic has hit supply in “dramatic ways,” but experts also suggest that the industry may use this as a pretext to maintain artificially high prices. The Justice Department is investigating potential antitrust practices among major egg producers, sparking calls from lawmakers and advocacy groups for federal regulators to investigate the industry’s pricing practices.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/business/egg-prices-wholesale.html