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The price of a dozen eggs in California has reached nearly $9 a dozen in some areas as demand continues to rise amid an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu.
In its summary of egg markets last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said California’s standard for large shell eggs rose $0.78 to $8.97 a dozen, due to a reduction in the offer.
These prices can be seen when you buy eggs online in supermarkets across the state.
For example, Walmart in Chico, Calif., on Tuesday night listed an 18-count box of Great Value large cage-free white eggs for $9.52, while a dozen of the same type of eggs from Great Value were listed for $7.22.
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Large amount of Cage Free eggs at CostCo Florida store. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
At Safeway in the same city, an 18-count case of Lucerne Farms cage-free large white eggs was listed for $12.99, although a dozen were not listed for sale on the retailer’s website.
Walmart and Safeway’s parent company, Albertsons, 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 ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in layer flocks,” the USDA wrote. “These herd losses, coming at a critical demand point, have pushed wholesale prices past the record highs set in December 2022 when HAPI outbreaks had a similar impact on the market.”
The FDA also reported this week that US egg production fell 4% in November as egg prices and bird flu cases continue to rise across the country.
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This picture illustration shows test tubes labeled “Bird flu” and eggs. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Reuters Photos)
Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute sector manager Kevin Bergquist said egg prices have been on the rise since 2023 due to a combination of seasonal holiday price increases and disruptions to egg supply due to bird flu.
Prices over the past year have remained “generally” above 2023 prices and even “often exceeded egg prices from 2022, when HPAI really captured the egg market,” according to Bergquist.
Wholesale egg prices, which rose nearly 55% in November, do not necessarily reflect consumer egg prices at grocery stores, which can vary widely.
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In the hands of a woman packing eggs in the supermarket (iStock / iStock)
According to the Consumer Price Index, food prices rose 0.5% in November, with four of the six major grocery store food groups increasing in cost. Eggs showed the greatest growth by a wide margin.
Prices for meat, poultry and fish rose 1.7% in November, but prices for eggs rose 8.2%.
Before the large bird flu outbreak 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 per dozen.
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However, the outbreak disrupted the market, leading to record egg prices in December 2022. The average price corrected to a lower level through 2023 as producers rebuilt their flocks.
FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.
