- Egg prices have dropped over 61% since Trump took office due to weak demand and increased imports.
- Bird flu outbreaks have killed millions of egg-laying hens, reducing supply.
- Imports from other countries helped stabilize egg availability and lower prices.
Egg Prices Have Fallen Sharply Since Trump Took Office
Egg prices in the U.S. have dropped more than 61% since January 2017 when Donald Trump became president. Prices reached an all-time high in early March but then fell quickly. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), large white eggs now cost about $2.52 per dozen on average across the country. Back in January 2017, a dozen eggs cost roughly $6.49. The price spike was even higher in early March, reaching over \$8 a dozen. This sharp decline shows how much the market has changed in just a few months.
Egg Demand Remains Weak Despite Slight Recent Increase
Egg demand improved a little just before the Memorial Day weekend. Still, it stayed below average levels. The USDA explained that demand has stayed low since late winter when prices soared. Many Americans reacted to high prices by buying fewer eggs. A study from Clarify Capital found that over 30% of people stopped purchasing eggs because they became too expensive. This drop in demand pushed prices down and helped cool the market. Consumers simply avoided eggs when prices got too high.
Bird Flu Outbreaks Reduced Egg Supply and Hurt Prices
The bird flu outbreak has destroyed millions of birds and hurt the egg supply. Since 2022, the disease has killed nearly 170 million birds, including chickens and turkeys. This loss caused fewer eggs to reach store shelves. Because of the shortage, egg prices initially rose to record levels. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed 43 bird flu outbreaks in egg-laying flocks across ten states. These states include Arizona, California, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Washington. The bird flu continues to impact egg producers and affects prices.
Increased Egg Imports Helped Stabilize Supply During the Crisis
To meet demand, the U.S. increased egg imports from countries like Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea. This move helped boost the supply of eggs in the market. Importing eggs made it possible to ease some of the shortages caused by bird flu losses. The extra supply helped push prices back down after their peak in March. Without these imports, the egg shortage might have lasted longer or caused prices to stay higher.
The Loss of Egg-Laying Hens Has Been Significant
Bird flu has hit egg-laying hens especially hard. Since the outbreak began, over 127 million egg layers died. That equals losing about 42.3 million egg layers each year. This number represents roughly 11% of the average number of hens over the last five years. The loss of so many hens has made it harder to produce eggs in normal amounts. As a result, the egg market remains unstable even with lower prices today.
Egg Prices Fall, But Challenges Remain
Egg prices have dropped sharply since their record highs this year. The main reasons include weak consumer demand, more imports, and a slowdown in new bird flu cases. Many Americans stopped buying eggs when prices spiked, causing demand to fall. Imports helped fill the supply gap during the bird flu crisis. Still, bird flu continues to affect egg-laying flocks across many states. This keeps the market unstable and could cause prices to rise again in the future. For now, eggs cost much less than they did at their peak just a few months ago.
