As of January 29, 2025, the average price of eggs in the U.S. was $7.09 a dozen, a 22% increase since January 1, 2025. Over half of St. Louis adults surveyed had heard about the increase due to bird flu in the last 7 days. Most heard it from social media (47%) or TV/radio (38%)
How are egg prices changing?
At the end of 2024, the average price of eggs reached $4.10 per dozen—double the price from August 2023. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects a 20% increase in egg prices this year, much higher than the 2.2% rise in overall food costs. Some egg-serving restaurants have even added a per-egg surcharge to menu items. The primary driver of rising egg prices is bird flu.
How does bird flu affecting egg prices?
Bird flu has strained the supply of eggs in the U.S. Since 2022, millions of birds have been culled (killed) to control the spread of H5N1 bird flu. Since December 2024, 13 million hens have died or been slaughtered due to the outbreak. This large-scale culling has reduced the egg supply, pushing prices higher. Also, farmers production costs are higher due to enhanced biosecurity measures and the need to replace lost flocks. All of these factors combine to drive up prices at the grocery store.
How might rising egg prices affect St. Louis residents?
Eggs are usually an affordable source of protein, vitamins A and D, and choline. Higher egg prices could lead to reduced egg consumption, potentially affecting dietary health for some St. Louisans.
Help St. Louisans stay informed
Community organizations can support St. Louisans by sharing information such as egg prices at different stores across St. Louis, plant-based egg alternatives for recipes, local farmers’ markets where prices may be more competitive, and updates from USDA about food supply changes.
About this week’s report
This week’s alert is based on a survey of 276 adult residents in St. Louis, MO (n = 168), Omaha, NE (n = 87), and Atlanta, GA (n = 21), conducted from February 1-3, 2025. Explore these data and more at iHeardSTL.
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Eggs are a key source of protein, but with prices soaring due to bird flu, many people are cutting back. This can impact nutrition, especially for those relying on eggs as an affordable staple.
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