Egg prices hit a new record in Trump’s first week in office. Don’t expect them to drop in 2025

Along with all the changes we’ve seen across the country in the early tosses of 2025, consumers have been warned to expect some record high egg prices in the US.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) price outlook, egg prices are expected to increase by 20.3 percent by the end of 2025. This is not necessarily a surprise as retail egg prices rose 8.4 percent in December.

The increased egg prices come after the 2022 outbreak of bird flu, which led to more than 20 million egg-laying chickens dying in the US in the last quarter of 2024.

Retail egg prices are also 36.8 percent higher in December 2024 than they were in December 2023, according to the Consumer Price Index. A dozen large, Grade A eggs averaged $4.16 in December 2024, a notable increase from previous months, with the same carton costing $3.60 and $3.37 respectively in November and October 2024.

“Not to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re in this for a while,” Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, said in a statement. “Until we have time without detection, this very, very tight egg supply will continue.”

The price of eggs rose steadily towards the end of 2024 - and the trend is expected to continue in 2025
The price of eggs rose steadily towards the end of 2024 – and the trend is expected to continue in 2025 (Getty Images)

The current bird flu outbreak, which began in February 2022, has led to the slaughter of more than 111 million birds, mostly egg-laying chickens. Whenever virus is found, every bird on a farm is killed to limit the spread of the disease.

The latest wave of bird flu is scrambling supplies of cage-free eggs because California has been among the hardest hit states. California, Nevada, Washington and Oregon all require eggs sold in their states to be cage-free.

“We need to move eggs from other areas of the country that produce cage-free to cover the low supply in these states because these states only allow cage-free eggs to be sold,” Metz said earlier in a statement.

The increase in the cost of eggs is also a result of inflation throughout the economy in the U.S. According to the USDA’s price outlook, prices for all foods are expected to increase by 2.2 percent in 2025, with grocery store prices predicted to increase by 1.3 percent.

The price of eggs became a political football during the presidential campaign last year, with now-President Donald Trump claiming that eggs were $5 under then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

His comment came days after his running mate, now-vice president JD Vance, claimed that eggs cost $4 while standing in front of a display selling a dozen for $2.99 ​​at a grocery store in Reading, Pennsylvania.

“Let’s talk about eggs,” Vance said in September. “Because these guys actually eat about 14 eggs every single morning. Eggs, when Kamala Harris took office, were $1.50 a dozen short. Now a dozen eggs cost you about $4,” he added. “Thanks to Kamala Harris’ inflationary policies, Pennsylvania has actually seen some of the worst grocery store increases in the entire nation, and again, that’s because she cast a pivotal vote on the Inflationary Explosion Act.”

During his campaign, Trump also repeatedly said he was focused on helping the economy, which included lowering grocery prices. During his interview with Time In December, when he was named the publication’s “Person of the Year,” he noted that this would not necessarily be an easy task.

“I want to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down when they’re up. You know it’s very difficult. But I think they will,” he said. “I think energy will bring them down. I think a better supply chain will bring them down. “

He reiterated his plan to bring down grocery prices during his January 20 inauguration speech. “I will refer all members of my cabinet to Marshal de enor said.

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