If you’ve strolled down the grocery store aisle for eggs lately, you might have felt sticker shock. Egg prices have been sky-high in early 2025 – no yolk! In fact, the average price for a dozen large Grade A eggs in the U.S. hit nearly $6 in February 2025, an all-time record​. That’s about an 80% jump since the start of 2024​, and well above the previous peak of around $4.82 seen in early 2023​. Consumers and breakfast lovers everywhere are wondering: why are eggs so expensive, and will prices ever come back down? In this post, we’ll crack open the latest egg price trends, the reasons behind them (avian flu, tariffs, seasonal demand, and more), and how things compare to the past. We’ll keep it casual and consumer-friendly – because understanding egg prices shouldn’t require an economics degree.

How Much Do Eggs Cost Now?

As of April 2025, eggs are pricier than ever. The nationwide average cost of a dozen eggs was about $5.90 in February 2025, the highest on record​. In January 2025, it was roughly $4.95​, so prices shot up nearly 20% in just one month. For comparison, a year ago in early 2024, a dozen eggs cost closer to $3 on average, and in mid-2023 they even dipped to around $2 during a brief lull​. In some areas and for specialty eggs (like organic or cage-free), prices have been even higher – reports of $6–$10 per dozen aren’t uncommon​. It’s enough to make anyone scramble to find a cheaper carton!

To put recent trends in perspective, here’s a quick look at average retail egg prices over the last six months:

Month Average Price per Dozen (USDA)

October 2024 $3.37

November 2024 $3.65 December 2024 $4.15

January 2025 $4.95

February 2025 $5.90

March 2025 ~ $5.50 (est.)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (average price for Grade A large eggs)​.

March 2025 data is not yet official; price is an approximate estimate based on early reports of a slight decline​

As the table shows, egg prices more than doubled in just a half-year, soaring from about $3.37 last October to nearly $5.90 by February. This surge is extraordinary. For further context, five years ago (in 2020) eggs were only around $1.50 per dozen​– meaning we’re now paying several times more for the same carton of eggs. Even compared to two years ago, when a bird flu outbreak in 2022-2023 caused a spike, today’s prices are higher. (The previous record was $4.82 in Jan 2023​, which has now been left in the dust.) The rapid climb in late 2024 and early 2025 has left many shoppers shell-shocked at the checkout.

The good news is that by spring 2025 there are early signs that egg prices might be stabilizing or even easing a bit. February was likely the peak – industry analysts noted that prices in March started to inch down from those record highs​. Grocery stores that had been limiting egg purchases and struggling to keep shelves stocked in January are now reporting fully stocked egg cases again, and even some sales on eggs as supply improves​. (Recently, a few supermarkets have advertised conventional eggs around $3.98 per dozen on sale, which is a welcome sight for thrifty shoppers​.) So while eggs are still expensive compared to a year ago, we may be past the worst of the price spike.

Shoppers browse a grocery store’s egg section. Egg prices hit record highs in early 2025, leaving many consumers astonished at the cost of a carton.

Why Are Egg Prices So High? 🥚

Several factors have combined to drive egg prices through the roof in the past year. It’s a perfect storm of bad news for your breakfast budget. Here are the main reasons:

• Avian Flu Outbreak (Bird Flu): The number one culprit behind soaring egg prices is a devastating outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in poultry flocks. Since 2022, the virus has forced farmers to cull (kill) tens of millions of egg-laying hens to prevent its spread. (When bird flu hits a farm, the entire flock is typically destroyed as a safety measure​.) This outbreak has been unprecedented in scale – nearly 170 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have died due to bird flu since 2022​. Losing so many egg-laying hens means a huge drop in egg supply, which naturally drives prices up. Fewer hens = fewer eggs, just as demand remained high. Even now, the outbreak is ongoing (though it has slowed recently), so farmers are still rebuilding their flocks. The bird flu impact can’t be overstated – it’s a key reason you’re paying so much more for eggs today.​

• Inflation and Higher Costs: Overall inflation in the economy has also played a role. Raising chickens has become more expensive due to pricier feed, fuel, and labor in recent years. Those higher production costs eventually get passed to consumers. Eggs have almost become a poster child for inflation lately​ – many Americans point to egg prices as one of the most visible signs of their grocery bill going up. While general inflation has cooled somewhat, earlier surges in feed grain prices and energy costs still linger in the price of eggs on the shelf. In short, it’s not just a shortage of hens; it’s also more expensive to produce eggs than it used to be, and that’s baked into the price you pay.

• Seasonal Demand (Easter Effect): Every spring, egg prices tend to get a bump thanks to seasonal demand. With Easter celebrations, there’s a higher demand for eggs – both for cooking (think Easter brunch, baking, etc.) and for decorating those Easter eggs. Historically, egg prices spike around Easter due to this holiday surge in demand​. In early 2025, this seasonal effect likely contributed to prices staying high. Retailers and suppliers knew Easter was coming (in April), so they stocked up in February/March, which kept demand for eggs strong even as supply was tight. So if you’ve been coloring eggs or baking hot cross buns, you’re part of that seasonal demand wave! The flip side is that after Easter, demand usually falls off – which can help prices relax a bit heading into summer.

• Tariffs and Trade Policies: As if the flu and inflation weren’t enough, trade policies have also entered the mix this year. In April 2025, President Trump announced new tariffs that could even apply to imported eggs​. Why are we talking about imported eggs? Because the U.S. started importing millions of eggs from other countries (like Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea) to help ease the shortage caused by bird flu​. These imports were meant to increase egg supply and bring prices down. However, the newly announced tariffs – a baseline 10% on imports from some countries, and up to 26% on others​– threaten to make those imported eggs more expensive. Industry experts warn that if these tariffs hit, they could boost egg prices just as they were starting to decline from their peak​. Essentially, tariffs are a wildcard: they raise uncertainty and could add costs for egg producers and food manufacturers that rely on imported eggs. It’s a developing situation, but it’s certainly a factor to watch. (One official noted that if tariffs force importers to pay more, those costs might get passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for things like liquid eggs or processed foods​.) In short: trade policy and even geopolitics have entered the egg price story in 2025!

• Other Factors: There are a few other bits and pieces influencing egg prices. Weather can affect feed crops and fuel costs, which trickle down to egg prices. Consumer behavior also plays a role – for example, some consumers started panic-buying eggs when news of shortages hit, which can temporarily drive up prices in stores (empty shelves = more demand pressure)​. On the flip side, some buyers have boycotted eggs or cut back due to high prices, waiting until they become affordable again​. These behaviors can swing demand locally. Additionally, state regulations can make a difference: states like California and Michigan that require cage-free eggs often have higher prices than the national average, because cage-free farming costs more​. All these factors combined make the egg market a bit complicated – but the avian flu and its supply shock, inflation, seasonal demand, and now tariffs are the big four ingredients in 2025’s egg price recipe.

Compared to the Past: A Historical Egg-samination

To appreciate how unusual today’s egg prices are, let’s hop in a time machine for a moment. Egg prices haven’t always been this high – not even close. For much of the past decade, eggs were a relatively cheap staple. Here are a few points of reference:

• Pre-Pandemic (2018–2019): The average price of a dozen eggs in 2018 was around $1.50​. Eggs were an affordable protein that barely made a dent in most grocery budgets. Even in 2019, prices were in the $1–$2 range generally. There were occasional mild spikes (for example, in 2015 a bird flu outbreak caused a temporary bump), but nothing like the recent extremes.

• 2020: Five years ago (April 2020), during the first COVID-19 lockdowns, there was a brief surge in egg demand (everyone was suddenly baking at home). Even then, the average price only hit about $1.50 per dozen nationally. So in 2020, eggs were still dirt cheap by today’s standards.

• 2022–2023 (The Last Bird Flu Spike): In 2022, bird flu struck and by January 2023 the average egg price in the U.S. hit $4.82 – a record at that time​. Shoppers definitely noticed when eggs nearly quintupled in price compared to a couple years prior. However, that 2022–2023 wave eventually eased. Farms replenished their flocks, and by mid-2023, egg prices fell back under $2 in many places​. In fact, August 2023 saw a low around $2.04 nationally​. So, there was significant relief in late 2023 as the bird flu outbreak seemed to wane.

• Late 2024 – Early 2025: Unfortunately, the bird flu came roaring back with a vengeance in late 2024, and egg prices surged yet again – this time even higher. From about $2.50 at the start of 2024, eggs climbed to nearly $6 by early 2025​. By February 2025, we were in uncharted territory with that ~$5.90 average price. To put it in perspective: today’s egg prices are roughly triple what they were just two years ago, and about 10 times what they were in the late 1990s (when a dozen eggs often cost around $0.90!). The current level is highly unusual in a historical context.

What this history shows is that egg prices can be quite volatile when shocks happen (like disease outbreaks), but they also can fall back down once conditions improve. If you feel like you’ve got whiplash from egg prices – going from super cheap, to expensive, back to cheap, and now expensive again – you’re not alone. It’s been a wild ride for this humble grocery item.

Will Egg Prices Come Down Soon? 🐔📉

Looking forward, many consumers are asking: when will we get some relief on egg prices? The answer is hopeful, but a bit uncertain. Here’s what we know about the outlook as of April 2025:

• Wholesale Prices Are Dropping: There are encouraging signs upstream. Wholesale egg prices (what grocers pay suppliers before eggs reach stores) have plunged over 50% since late January​. One analysis noted that on January 21, wholesale eggs were around $6.55/dozen, and by the end of March they fell to about $3.00/dozen​. That’s a huge drop. This collapse in wholesale prices is largely because the bird flu situation has stabilized a bit (fewer new outbreaks in early 2025), and producers and importers have managed to boost supply​. Typically, retail prices lag behind wholesale by a few weeks​. So, if wholesale eggs fell in March, we’d expect store prices to start falling in April. In fact, some supermarkets have already begun lowering shelf prices as their costs come down, and the days of rationing eggs or paying $7–$8 for a carton seem to be fading. Consumers should start to see more reasonable egg prices soon – maybe not as low as $2, but certainly lower than the $5–$6 range of the winter.

• Imports and Increased Supply: The U.S. government and egg industry have taken action to increase supply. Millions of eggs are being imported from abroad to make up for the lost domestic production​. Countries like Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea have sent eggs to the U.S. in recent months – for example, South Korea shipped tens of thousands of eggs to help out, and Turkey is set to send 15,000 tons by July 2025​. These imports, combined with efforts by U.S. farmers to raise new hens, mean more eggs on the market heading into spring. More supply = downward pressure on prices. There’s even a $1 billion federal initiative to combat avian flu and support poultry farmers, which should eventually help increase the chicken flock and egg production​. The USDA had hoped these measures would stabilize egg prices by Easter 2025​, and indeed, we are seeing stabilization now. As long as there isn’t another flare-up of bird flu, the worst supply shortages might be behind us.

• Tariff Uncertainty: A note of caution: the recently announced tariffs on imported eggs could throw a wrench in the works. If these tariffs actually go into effect, they might raise the cost of those foreign eggs and somewhat offset the supply boost. Analysts say this could lead to a bit of “short-term uncertainty” in pricing​. In other words, prices might not fall as fast or as far as they otherwise would, and there could be some bumps in the coming weeks. The Agriculture Secretary acknowledged it’s an unsettled time and stopped short of promising prices will instantly drop​. So, while we expect a decline, it might not be a smooth ride straight down. Keep an eye on the news – if negotiations reduce the tariff impact, that’s good for egg prices; if trade disputes escalate, it could keep prices elevated a while longer.

• Consumer Behavior Shifting: Interestingly, consumers themselves might help bring prices down, simply by buying fewer eggs. As we noted, some people responded to the high prices by cutting back or swearing off eggs until they’re cheaper​. A recent survey found 1 in 3 Americans stopped buying eggs at the peak prices, waiting until they drop to around $5 or less​. This kind of demand reaction can cool off the market – if enough folks say “no thanks” to $6 eggs, stores are forced to lower prices to entice buyers back. We’re probably seeing a bit of that now. It’s economics 101: high prices eventually curb demand, which then helps prices come down. So don’t feel guilty if you decided to skip the omelette – you might be helping the market adjust!

• Longer-Term Outlook: Assuming no new bird flu disaster strikes, experts anticipate egg prices will gradually come down as 2025 progresses. They may not return all the way to pre-pandemic levels (under $2) immediately, because rebuilding chicken flocks takes time and some costs (like cage-free transitions or higher wages) are here to stay. The USDA had (earlier in the year) forecasted about a 20% rise for egg prices in 2025, but that was before the dramatic interventions and price drops we’re now seeing. It’s possible that by late 2025, egg prices will settle somewhere in a more normal range, though likely still a bit above the ultra-cheap 2018 levels. For now, expect continued volatility – a few more months of up-and-down – but with a downward trend overall as the industry recovers.

In summary, relief is on the horizon for egg shoppers. We’re already seeing the cracks in those high prices (pun intended). Wholesale costs are tumbling, stores are restocking, and even promotions are back. The worst-case scenario of $6-$7 eggs appears to be passing. However, global trade hiccups (tariffs) and the ever-looming threat of bird flu mean it’s wise to keep those expectations cautious. Egg prices might not drop overnight, but the trend is looking better than it did a couple of months ago.

Bottom Line: Hang in There, Omelette Lovers!

Egg prices have been eggs-tremely high in early 2025 due to a confluence of unfortunate factors – a massive avian flu outbreak, inflationary pressures, seasonal Easter demand, and even new tariff worries. We saw prices surge to record levels, squeezing consumers who just want their morning omelette or affordable baking ingredients. It’s been a rough few months for anyone who loves eggs (or needs them for their bakery business).

The bright side is that change is afoot. April 2025 finds the egg market at a turning point: supplies are improving, and prices are starting to ease from their peaks. If trends hold, Americans should see lower egg prices in the coming weeks and months compared to the eye-popping winter highs. Don’t be surprised if by summertime, you’re paying significantly less per carton than you were in January.

Of course, we can’t rule out new surprises – but for now, you might finally catch a break at the egg aisle. In the meantime, a few tips for consumers: shop around and look for sales (some stores have begun offering deals on eggs again), consider buying medium eggs or store brands which can be cheaper than large name-brand eggs, and buy only what you need (to avoid waste) until prices normalize.

Eggs are a staple for many of us, and this price rollercoaster has been hard to swallow. But hang in there – it looks like this egg price saga is starting to turn a corner. With any luck, the only thing cracking this year will be the eggs themselves, and not our wallets. Here’s to hoping we can all enjoy our breakfast without breaking the bank. Happy egg shopping, and may your next dozen be a little kinder to your budget! 🥚💸

Sources:

• Ariana Baio & Alicja Hagopian, The Independent – “Egg prices keep going up. Here’s the average cost for a dozen across the U.S.” (2 April 2025)​ independent.co.uk

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• Reuters – “US egg imports meant to drive prices down could be hit by tariffs” (3 April 2025)​

  reuters.com

• Louis Jacobson & Amy Sherman, PolitiFact – “Trump touted a 50% drop in egg prices. ... retail prices lag behind” (4 April 2025)​

  politifact.com

• Josh Funk, AP News – “US egg prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing” (Feb 2025)​

  apnews.com

• USDA AMS Market News – Egg Markets Overview (Weekly report, 4 April 2025)​

  ams.usda.gov

• Marina Dunbar, The Guardian – “About a third of Americans stop buying eggs due to rising costs” (1 April 2025)​

  theguardian.com

• Economic Times (India) – “Prices to come down?... these countries will supply eggs to the U.S.” (22 March 2025)​

  m.economictimes.com

• Clarify Capital – “The Scramble for Eggs: How Inflation Is Changing Consumer Behavior” (2025 study)​

  clarifycapital.com

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Egg prices 2025