Egg prices in California reach $9 per dozen in some areas

Price of ten Eggs in California Its price has reached nearly $9 per dozen in some areas, with demand continuing to rise amid an outbreak of highly contagious avian influenza, or bird flu.

In its overview of egg markets last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the California index for large-shell eggs rose $0.78 to $8.97 per dozen, due to lower supply.

These prices can be seen when shopping online Eggs in supermarkets All over the country.

For example, a Walmart in Chico, Calif., on Tuesday night listed an 18-count carton of cage-free large white eggs at $9.52, while a dozen of the same type of eggs from Great Value were listed at $7.22.

Egg prices are high and will continue until 2025

At a Safeway in the same city, an 18-count carton of cage-free large white eggs from Lucerne Farms Eggs was offered for $12.99, though dozens of them were not listed for sale on the retailer’s website.

Albertsons, the parent company of Walmart and Safeway, did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment on the price of the eggs.

“Demand for shell eggs increased slightly in the last two weeks of the year, supported by concerns about tight supplies due to an ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in laying hen flocks,” the USDA wrote. “These herd losses, coming at a critical point of demand, have pushed wholesale prices past record levels set in December 2022 when the HAPI outbreak had a similar impact on the market.”

The Food and Drug Administration also reported this week that Egg production in the United States Egg prices fell by 4% in November as egg prices and bird flu cases continued to rise across the country.

This is why grocery stores really raise prices

Egg prices have been rising since 2023 due to a combination of seasonal price increases during the holidays and disruption to egg supplies due to bird flu, said Kevin Bergquist, Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute sector director.

Prices over the past year have “generally” remained higher than 2023 prices and even “often exceeded egg prices as of 2022, which is when HPAI really took over the egg market,” according to Bergquist.

Wholesale egg prices, which jumped nearly 55% in November, don’t necessarily reflect consumer eggs Prices at the grocery store, Which can vary widely.

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According to the Consumer Price Index, grocery prices rose 0.5% in November, with the cost of four of the six major food groups rising in grocery stores. Whites showed the largest increase by a wide margin.

Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 1.7% in November, but egg prices rose 8.2%.

Before the widespread outbreak of bird flu In March 2022, flock numbers were at a level that supported lower egg prices, according to Bergquist. He noted that the wholesale price was less than $1.50 a dozen.

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However, the outbreak disrupted the market, sending egg prices to record levels in December 2022. The average price corrected to a lower level by 2023 as producers rebuild their herds.

FOX Business’ Daniela Genovese contributed to this report.