Egg prices in parts of California will blow your mind

Concerns surrounding avian influenza, better known as Bird Flu, are at the center of a sharp spike in egg prices in California.

Some shoppers in the state are paying as much as $9 for a carton of 12 eggs, a staggering price that is the result of high demand and reduced supply. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that the California average price for large eggs rose a shocking 78 cents to $8.97 per dozen.

In Chico, California, Walmart is reportedly selling “an 18-count carton of Great Value Cage-free Large White Eggs for $9.52” according to Fox Business. Meanwhile, “a dozen of the same type of eggs from Great Value were listed at $7.22.”

A Safeway in the same city listed “an 18-count carton of Lucerne Farms Eggs Cage-Free Large White Eggs” at $12.99. There was no listing for a standard dozen eggs.

“Demand for shell eggs posted a slight rise into the last two weeks of the year, supported by concerns over tight supplies due to persistent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in layer flocks,” the USDA explained. “These flock losses, coming at a critical demand point, have driven wholesale prices past the record levels set in December 2022 when HAPI outbreaks had a similar impact on the market.”

The organization also noted that egg production declined by 4% in November 2024.

“Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Sector Manager Kevin Bergquist said egg prices have been elevated since 2023 due to the combination of seasonal price increases during the holidays and disruption in egg supply due to bird flu,” Fox Business reported. “Prices over the past year have ‘generally’ remained above 2023 prices and even ‘often exceeded egg prices from 2022, which was when HPAI really caught the egg market,’ according to Bergquist.”

This comes as overall grocery prices rose by 0.5% in November, according to the Consumer Price Index. While four of the six “major grocery store food groups” rose in price, eggs were the largest increase by a significant margin.

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