Why Egg Prices Are Spiking Again | Business Matters (Sept. 25)

Don Ma
By Don Ma
September 25, 2024Business Matters
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Egg prices are spiking, again. They jumped by more than 28 percent in August compared to 12 months ago. That’s easily the biggest increase out of any food item tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The main cause for rising egg prices is familiar: bird flu. Birds are getting sick, meaning fewer eggs, so less supply, and thus higher prices at the grocery store.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says bird flu has impacted nearly 101 million birds across 48 states since January 2022. That helps explain why total egg production in July fell 2.6 percent year-over-year.