All quotes attributed to Emily Metz, president and CEO, American Egg Board.

“The volatility we’ve been seeing in egg prices reflects many factors, most of which are outside the control of an egg farmer. Eggs are sold on markets as agricultural commodities, like corn and wheat, and wholesale prices for eggs are driven largely by supply and demand. 

“The national egg supply has been strained due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza—also known as HPAI or bird flu—which is devastating to egg farmers. In the US we’ve now lost more than 130 million egg-laying hens to this terrible outbreak, and more than 30 million laying hens have been lost since January 2025, alone. At the same time, eggs are more important than ever to Americans and we’re just coming off 23 consecutive months of year-over-year increases in volume sales of eggs at retail.

“These two forces combined—tight supply and high demand—have directly caused wholesale egg prices to increase for months, culminating in record high wholesale prices in late February, as well as intermittent shortages of eggs at some retail locations and in different parts of the country. Although each retailer decides how much they’re going to sell eggs for in the store, higher wholesale prices usually impact retail prices. 

“It's important to know that this is a national challenge. The scale of loss across the country affects wholesale prices nationwide, and while some regions and some retailers are more acutely impacted than others, the effects are felt everywhere. The system for egg production nationally is both complex and time sensitive. The scale and duration of this outbreak have impacted everything, including availability of new chicks, which has compounded the length of time it takes for egg farms to recover and return to producing eggs—currently estimated at nine months to more than a year.

“While it’s going to take a sustained period with no additional HPAI detections on egg farms to stabilize the national supply, there is some good news. The swift and decisive action laid out by US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in the USDA’s five-point strategy brought more eggs into the market through imports. Additionally, consumer demand, while remaining steady, has moderated as it always does in the weeks before the Easter buying season begins. Lastly, it has been more than a month since the last significant detection of bird flu on an egg farm, which has also helped to stabilize the wholesale egg market. 

“Consequently, we are seeing a wholesale market correction from the historic highs in late February, and egg prices have dropped by more than 50% in the past four weeks. Retail egg prices typically lag wholesale prices by weeks; however, as the Easter holiday approaches, increasing demand may also cause a second, temporary increase in wholesale prices. 

“Eggs are essential to spring holidays like Easter and Passover—and this year won’t be any different. In fact, Americans decorate and eat about three billion eggs during the Easter season. The good news is that our supply has improved in the past four weeks, and egg farmers have been working around the clock to ensure everyone has the eggs they need for their Easter and Passover holiday celebrations.

“While no one can predict the future, it’s important to keep in mind that we are not out of the woods yet. Egg farmers are closely watching spring migration of wild birds, recognizing that wild birds are a leading cause of the spread of this virus and pose a great and ongoing threat to egg-laying flocks.

“Egg farmers deeply appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding in these extremely challenging circumstances. Keeping their birds safe and healthy is every egg farmer’s top priority, and they are working around the clock to protect their birds, replenish supply and keep those eggs coming.”

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