This Is Why You're Paying So Much for Eggs Right Now

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What happened

Egg prices rose by 59.9% from December 2021 to December 2022, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. Food prices as a whole are up 10.4% over that same time period, compared to overall inflation of 6.5%.

The cost of a dozen eggs is up from $1.79 to $4.25, on average. In areas with a high cost of living, such as California, New York, and Hawaii, a carton of eggs can cost $7 or more.

Although inflation has pushed up the cost of living, the dramatic rise in egg prices is primarily due to the avian flu, commonly known as bird flu. This is the deadliest avian flu outbreak in U.S. history, and it has resulted in the death of nearly 58 million poultry as of January 2023.

"The flu is the most important factor affecting egg prices," Maro Ibarburu, a business analyst at the Egg Industry Center at Iowa State University, told The Washington Post. "In the event we get the outbreak under control, it will be better every month," he added in regards to egg prices.

So what

Eggs are a household staple, so this price increase impacts many consumers. It's especially hard on families who go through lots of eggs and shoppers on a tight budget, who could find themselves with much more expensive grocery bills. The fact that food costs as a whole have also gone up only compounds the issue.

Restaurants and bakeries have also seen their expenses increase. Some have had to raise prices, and others have closed entirely. Not only could you find yourself paying more at the grocery store, it could also be more expensive to eat out or grab a cookie at the local bake shop.

Now what

Higher food costs are tough on people's personal finances, because there's no getting around them. Everyone needs to buy groceries, and it's not easy to stop buying eggs if they're something you use regularly. There are, however, a few smart ways to save on groceries:

  • Shop around for the lowest prices. Lots of stores post their deals online, so you can see which grocery stores save you money before you go anywhere.
  • Clip coupons (digitally). If you aren't using them already, coupon apps make it easy to cut grocery costs.
  • Get a grocery credit card. The best grocery credit cards offer anywhere from 3% to 6% cash back at supermarkets.

There's hope that egg prices will come down this year. Until that happens, you can at least reduce your grocery bill by shopping around, taking advantage of coupons, and paying with a grocery credit card.

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