Egg Prices in US Surge to ₹860 per Dozen Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

Prices in US Surge to ₹860: Egg prices have soared in the US have facing record-high costs for one of their basic protein sources amid an ongoing bird flu outbreak.

The average price of a dozen Grade A eggs hit an unprecedented $4.95 ( ₹429.91) in January 2025, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This surge marks a sharp rise of more than double the low of $2.04 ( ₹176.47) recorded in August 2023.

The bird flu outbreak, formally known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), has led authorities to cull millions of chickens to prevent the spread of the virus, significantly reducing egg supply. This drastic measure is necessary since a single outbreak at a large egg farm, where millions of birds are housed, can lead to massive losses.

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The flu has led authorities to slaughter millions of chickens across the US to contain the spread. This in turn has dwindled the supply, causing a rise in egg prices as well. Since massive egg farms may have millions of birds, a bird flu outbreak in even one of them means major losses.

“One of the things that was not foreseen at that time was this major animal disease outbreak,” Watts testified Tuesday. “As a result, there was no regulatory flexibility to suspend those requirements in the event of a major supply chain disruption.”

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The situation is exacerbated by challenges in egg availability. Many grocery stores have found their shelves empty as suppliers struggle to meet demand. In some areas, customers have faced limitations on the number of cartons they can purchase, and prices have risen sharply for premium varieties, such as organic or cage-free eggs.

Egg prices in US vs India

While egg prices have grown by 65% in the US since January 2024, the situation in India is under control. CPI data for January shows that egg prices have gone up by 1.27% on an average year-on-year. The urban inflation rate in egg price in India is however higher at 2.28%. In rural areas, egg prices increased by 0.63% year-on-year in January.

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