What once felt like a luxury seems to be an affordable everyday staple again.
In January 2025, egg prices climbed high enough that some U.S. retailers were charging more than $9 for a dozen. As bird flu reduced supply, grocery shelves emptied and some stores imposed purchase limits. Online, people joked about dipping into retirement savings to buy a carton.
Now, prices are moving the other way.
Egg prices fell 7% in January from the prior month on a seasonally adjusted basis and are down 34.2% from a year ago, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report published Friday. The CPI is the government’s main gauge of consumer inflation, tracking how prices change across commonly purchased goods and services.
The price drop marks the steepest year-over-year decline of all goods and services in January’s CPI report.
The average price of Grade A large eggs has retreated toward the $2 range — closer to historical norms, although still elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The price swings are largely tied to avian influenza, or bird flu, which has disrupted the U.S. egg supply for several years, affecting over 174 million poultry since a major outbreak began in early 2022, according to United States Department of Agriculture data.
Seasonality also plays a role, as demand typically rises during the holiday baking season and eases in January, according to trade association Eggs Unlimited.
A supply shock — and a rebound
In January 2025 alone, bird flu wiped out nearly 19 million egg-laying hens — about 8% of the conventional flock — according to USDA market data. That sudden loss of supply helped push prices higher.
By contrast, losses in January 2026 total roughly 2.8 million birds, or about 1% of the conventional flock.
While bird flu is still affecting the industry, the scale of disruption is far smaller than a year ago, allowing production to recover.
The USDA expects average egg prices in 2026 to be about 39% lower than in 2025, reflecting improved production after last year’s outbreaks.
Still, egg markets remain sensitive to disease outbreaks, and those forecasts can change quickly if a new wave of bird flu tightens supply.
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