Egg prices are expected to see a significant increase in 2025, with projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicating a 41.1% rise, according to a report released on Tuesday.
Earlier this year, the USDA had forecasted a 20% increase, but the worsening bird flu outbreak has led to a much higher revised estimate. The disease has severely impacted poultry farms, disrupting supply chains and causing price surges.
The report highlights that retail egg prices climbed 13.8% in January, following an 8.4% rise in December. Compared to the same period last year, egg prices in January were 53% higher.
The national average cost of a dozen eggs reached $4.95 in January, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The outbreak has affected an increasing number of commercial egg-laying hens, with an estimated 18.8 million birds impacted by the disease in January alone, the report noted.
A separate USDA report published on February 14 indicated that wholesale egg prices had risen by $0.40 over the previous month. The agency described the market supply as “very light to light,” with little hope for improvement in the short term due to the continued spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 70 human cases of bird flu, with most being mild. However, one fatality has been reported. The deceased individual, who was over 65 years old and had underlying health conditions, had been exposed to backyard poultry and wild birds, according to officials.