Americans are spending nearly double on eggs compared to a few weeks ago, as bird flu cases continue to affect supplies, and frozen egg storage volumes remain lower than last year.
The price of a dozen eggs has risen from $2.11 in early October to $4.16 at present, an increase of more than 97 percent in less than two months.
“Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in California over the past week has led to the loss of 1.5 million layers [egg laying birds], tightening supplies, and strengthening market prices,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a Nov. 29 report.
Data from the agency shows there were 377 million egg-laying birds in October, which is down by 3 percent from last year. Fewer egg-laying hens mean fewer eggs, which increases prices. The volume of frozen eggs in storage is down by 22 percent from November 2023 and is at its lowest level since spring 2023….