Key Points Summary – Egg Price Fell
- Egg price fell from $6.49 to $2.52 per dozen since January.
- Peak in early March saw eggs over $8 nationwide.
- USDA blames weak demand and reduced bird flu outbreaks.
- Over 30% of Americans stopped buying eggs earlier this year.
- The U.S. ramped up egg imports from Turkey and Brazil.
- Bird flu wiped out over 166 million birds since 2022.
- Analysts warn prices could still spike 40% later in 2025.
Egg Price Crashes Under Trump
The egg price fell more than 61% since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. In just five months, the cost of a carton dropped from $6.49 to $2.52, based on the latest data from the USDA.
At its worst, the national average hit over $8 per dozen in early March, sparking outrage and panic-buying. Grocery store shelves emptied as inflation-weary Americans scrambled to feed their families.
Now the tide has turned.
Shoppers are finally seeing relief, but experts warn the crisis isn’t over.
From All-Time High to Grocery Aisle Relief
The USDA’s Egg Markets Overview confirms the downward trend. “Shell egg demand posted a slight improvement headed into the Memorial Day weekend but remained well below average,” the report stated.
This drop follows months of pain for consumers, many of whom simply stopped buying eggs.
A survey by Clarify Capital in April showed over one-third of Americans quit eggs altogether, vowing not to return until prices became reasonable again.
They may be headed back to the dairy aisle—but cautiously.
Bird Flu Disaster Wrecked the Supply
The reason eggs cost so much in the first place? A catastrophic bird flu outbreak that began in 2022.
The virus devastated the poultry industry, killing more than 166 million birds. Among them, 127 million were egg-laying hens. That number equals about 11% of the country’s average layer inventory, according to economist Bernt Nelson from the American Farm Bureau Foundation.
Supermarkets responded by limiting purchases. Photos from early January showed signs restricting egg quantities in cities like Manhattan Beach, California.
The effect was nationwide—and painful.
U.S. Turned to Imports
To ease the crisis, the U.S. began importing more eggs. Shipments from Brazil, Turkey, and South Korea helped fill the gap.
According to Reuters, those emergency measures helped stop the bleeding. Supply climbed. Prices dipped. For a moment, shoppers breathed easier.
But analysts say that imported relief may not last forever.
USDA projections suggest prices could spike again—by over 40%—before the end of 2025.
Outbreaks Still Threaten the Market
Even now, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is tracking active bird flu outbreaks.
In total, 43 new outbreaks hit layer flocks in 10 states: Arizona, California, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Washington.
Those numbers keep farmers on edge. Just one outbreak can lead to mass culling, disrupting the already fragile recovery.
The country may have dodged a major price crisis—for now.
Shoppers Remain Cautious
Despite cheaper eggs, many shoppers remain skeptical. Prices fell fast, but not everyone believes they’ll stay that way.
Stores still limit purchases in certain areas. Others maintain inflated prices on organic or pasture-raised options. Consumer confidence hasn’t fully returned.
Some families say they’ve found alternatives—and plan to stick with them.
A mother of four in Texas shared, “We switched to oats and yogurt during the spike. Now that eggs are cheaper again, I’m still not sure we’ll buy them every week.”
That shift in behavior could reshape the egg market for good.
Price War Isn’t Over Yet
The egg price fell fast—but a new battle could be brewing.
Experts say another wave of bird flu or a surge in export demand could send prices soaring again. And with climate uncertainty and global food competition, no one’s ruling anything out.
For now, shoppers will enjoy the drop. But as history shows, the egg market can crack overnight.
