In April, retail egg prices in the US experienced a decline Record price as reported by government data released on Tuesday. After hitting a peak of $6.23 in March, the average price for a dozen Grade A eggs dropped to $5.12 last month, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This marked the first month-over-month decrease in egg prices since October 2024.
Overall, the average price for eggs of all sizes saw a substantial decline of 12.7%, representing the sharpest monthly fall since March 1984.
Despite this drop, retail egg prices remain close to historic highs due to a prolonged outbreak of Bird flu affecting the chicken population laying eggs. The average price for a dozen large eggs in April was 79% higher than the same month a year ago, as noted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
David L. Ortega, a professor specializing in food economy and policy at Michigan State University, anticipates that egg prices will continue to decline in May and June. He explained that consumer demand typically wanes After Easter, contributing to lower prices.
The recent low occurrence of avian flu in the commercial poultry sector has also played a role in stabilizing the nation’s egg supply, Ortega added.
The US Department of Agriculture indicated that there were 59 bird flu outbreaks in commercial poultry operations in February, along with three outbreaks noted in December and April.
However, Ortega cautioned that the trajectory of the virus remains unpredictable, and prices might surge again if the outbreak reoccurs.
Since early 2022, avian flu has resulted in the deaths of over 169 million birds. To curb the spread of the virus, entire flocks are killed when a bird falls ill. Following a flock’s slaughter, it can take up to a year to clean the farm and raise new birds to maturity.
Even a single outbreak in commercial operations can significantly impact supply at a Giant egg farm, potentially involving millions of birds. Outbreaks at two farms in Ohio and South Dakota in April affected more than 927,000 egg-laying chickens.
Addressing egg price reduction has become a priority for President Donald Trump. In February, the USDA announced an Investment of $1 billion to assist farmers in enhancing biosecurity measures against bird flu.
The US has also seen an Increase in imports of eggs from countries like Korea, Türkiye, and Brazil. According to Kevin Bergquist, sector manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, imports of eggs and egg products surged by 77.5% in the first three months of the year compared to the same timeframe last year.
The Department of Justice’s antitrust division is conducting a Survey on Cal-Main Foods, the leading American egg producer, which supplies approximately 20% of the nation’s eggs. Cal-Maine confirmed that it was under investigation in early April.
Based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, Cal-Maine reported that its net profit more than tripled in the last quarter ending March 1.
Source: apnews.com