The shortage has been attributed to the avian flu outbreaks and price increases across the United States. Millions of egg-laying hens died in November and December 2024 due to the highly contagious virus, impacting supply chains and grocery store shelves, the CNN reported.
The USDA reports nearly half of all birds killed by avian flu in 2024 died in those two months alone. Replacing these flocks takes time, prolonging the shortages. “We can’t begin fixing it the next day. It is really a six-to-nine-month process. It’s causing some shortages in certain markets that are intermittent and localized,” Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, told the CNN.
The average price for a dozen eggs reached $4.33 by the end of December, a 25% increase from November, according to Nielsen IQ data from the American Egg Board. This adds to an already substantial price hike, with egg prices up 37.5% year-over-year as of November, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Grocery chains like Publix, with nearly 1,500 stores, are experiencing shortages. Publix stated: “Items in this section have limited availability. We are working to bring these products back as soon as possible.” King Cullen, a supermarket on Long Island, New York, posted signs on empty shelves explaining the shortages.
While holiday demand and avian flu were expected to push prices up, the situation worsened after the holidays. The virus spread to dairy farms, impacting nearby egg farms, and extreme weather altered the flight patterns of wild birds, which are primary carriers of the virus.
