U.S. Retail Egg Prices

Average Price: Eggs, Grade A, Large per Dozen in U.S. City Average

The Average Price: Eggs, Grade A, Large per Dozen in the U.S. City Average is a monthly series from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Data comes from the FRED database (series APU0000708111).

Bird Flu Influenza: 12-Month Trend

Egg prices experienced extreme volatility over this period, driven primarily by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, or bird flu) outbreaks that reduced the egg-laying hen population.

• Peak in early 2025: Prices hit record highs due to widespread flock culling. The all-time high reached around $6.23 per dozen in March 2025 (some reports noted even higher daily/weekly wholesale peaks near $8+). This followed surges in late 2024 and early 2025, with tens of millions of hens lost to the virus. Annual average for 2025 was roughly $4.71 per dozen.

• Sharp decline through late 2025 into early 2026: As outbreaks eased, flock recovery began, supply improved, and prices fell rapidly. Recent BLS monthly data shows:

  • November 2025: $2.860
  • December 2025: $2.712
  • January 2026 : $2.577
  • February 2026: $2.500

From the March 2025 peak of ~$6.23 to February 2026’s $2.50, this represents a drop of roughly 60%. Year-over-year comparisons (e.g., February 2026 vs. February 2025) show declines exceeding 50-57% in some months. Wholesale prices (separate from BLS retail) fell even more dramatically at times, sometimes below $0.50 per dozen by early 2026.

Overall, the 12-month trend from mid-2025 onward is a steep downward trajectory, returning prices toward (or below) pre-surge levels seen in 2023-2024. Note that March/April 2026 data was not yet released at the time of the latest updates, but wholesale indicators suggest continued softness or further modest declines into spring 2026.

Why the Trend Occurred

• Supply shock from bird flu: Major outbreaks in 2024-early 2025 culled millions of laying hens (part of a multi-year pattern since 2022 totaling over 100-150+ million birds affected). This created shortages, rationing in some stores, and record prices.
• Recovery in 2025-2026: Reduced outbreak severity in the most recent flu season, better biosecurity measures, and flock rebuilding increased egg production. February 2026 production was up ~5% year-over-year in some reports, easing the shortage.
• Other factors: Feed costs, energy, and general inflation played roles in prior years, but bird flu was the dominant driver of the 2025 spike and subsequent plunge. Wholesale markets (e.g., for 30-dozen cases) showed even wilder swings than retail.

2025 Average Price: Eggs, Grade A, Large per Dozen in U.S. City Average

Egg prices are notoriously volatile compared to many groceries because of the short production cycle and vulnerability to disease. Historically, they hovered below $2 per dozen for decades before spikes in 2022, 2023, and especially 2025.

Average Price: Chicken, Fresh, Whole, Cost per Pound, in U.S. City Average (APU0000706111)

** Chicken prices can still fluctuate due to other factors** (feed costs, fuel, demand, exports, labor costs, etc.).

Why Bird Flu (HPAI) Did Not Significantly Affect Chicken Meat Prices Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI, or bird flu) devastated egg prices in 2024–early 2025 by killing or forcing the culling of tens of millions of laying hens (older birds kept for 1–2+ years to produce eggs). However, it had minimal impact on chicken meat (broiler) prices for several key structural reasons:

Different birds, different farms, different industries: * Egg-laying hens (layers) and meat chickens (broilers) are genetically distinct breeds raised on completely separate farms with separate supply chains. * Layers are bred for egg production and live much longer (often 18–90+ weeks). * Broilers are bred for rapid growth and are slaughtered young — typically at 5–8 weeks old (about 6–7 weeks on average).

For the most current data, check the BLS average price tables or FRED series directly—the next monthly update is typically around the 10th-15th of each month. Prices can vary significantly by region, store type, and whether eggs are conventional, cage-free, or organic.