Devin Varnado

The price of eggs in the United States is expected to increase by 20%, with some estimates forecasting a nationwide average of $5 per dozen, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In December 2024, the national average price of eggs reached $4.15 per dozen. The highest recorded nationwide average occurred in 2022, at $4.82 per dozen. Some areas of the country are already paying more than double their previous averages, according to a report from CNN.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service attributes the rising prices to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial egg-laying flocks. The virus, reported in over 145 million chickens across all 50 states, has caused the deaths of millions of laying hens, leading to reduced supply. In November and December 2024 alone, 17.2 million laying birds were killed as a result of the outbreak, according to the USDA.
The spread of avian flu is exacerbated in large, densely populated flocks, such as those found in industrial farming. To curb the spread of the virus, infected birds are culled. While symptoms of the avian flu in chickens, such as discoloration, low energy, and digestive issues, can be detected, they often appear too late to save the birds. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises immediate culling of affected chickens to prevent further transmission.
The combination of the avian flu and overall inflation has driven egg prices higher. Although the USDA reports that the outbreak is under control, prices are expected to continue rising as more laying hens are culled to combat the virus.
“Biden said prices were going down, and we never saw that,” said Elizabeth Walker, a single mother of three in Mississippi, where she is paying an average of $5.04 for a dozen eggs. “Now Trump says prices are going to go down, but they keep going up.”
While the price surge and avian flu outbreak show no signs of abating, the egg industry is beginning to stabilize its supply chains, and farmers are gaining a better understanding of how to manage the disease.