The US egg market has reached a breaking point, with prices skyrocketing due to the ongoing bird-flu outbreak and inflation. Waffle House recently announced a 50-cent surcharge on each egg ordered, citing high wholesale costs. The average price of a dozen eggs now exceeds $4, with forecasts predicting a 20% further increase in 2025.
The logic of maintaining cheap eggs as a loss leader has strained due to rising costs, which are about $7 for restaurants and stores compared to $2.25 last fall. Many grocery stores are passing high prices to shoppers, while some continue to maintain consistent prices. Restaurants are absorbing the cost, but when egg prices rise continuously, they face limited options.
Egg consumption in the US has rebounded since the 2010s, with Americans eating an average of about 279 eggs a year – around five to six per week. Despite the price surge, it’s unlikely that consumers will cut back significantly due to eggs’ cultural significance. The rising egg prices serve as a symbol of America’s inflation and economic challenges, making them a pressing issue for many households.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/02/egg-prices-increase-waffle-house-surcharge/681585