USDA Predicts Significant Increase in Egg Prices Due to Bird Flu Outbreak
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revised its forecast for egg prices, predicting a staggering increase of over 41% by 2025. The latest prediction is significantly higher than the initial estimate of a 20% rise in January.
The surge in egg prices is attributed to the rising cases of bird flu, which have severely impacted commercial farms. As of January, approximately 18.8 million commercial egg layers were affected by the outbreak. Retail egg prices rose by 13.8% in January and 53% compared to the previous year.
Wholesale egg prices also saw a significant increase, with prices rising by $0.40 over a 30-day period. The USDA attributes this to the ongoing impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on productive flocks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 70 cases of bird flu among humans, mostly mild, but one fatality has been recorded. However, it’s worth noting that the victim had underlying medical conditions and was exposed to non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.
With these predictions, consumers can expect egg prices to continue their upward trend in the coming year. The USDA’s revised forecast serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by commercial farms due to the bird flu outbreak.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/egg-prices-predicted-rise-411-2025-usda/story?id=119182317