If you bought a carton of eggs in February 2025, you probably remember the price. “Why are eggs so expensive?” became one of the most-searched money questions of 2025. The good news is that the story has a clear cause, and prices have come down a lot since. Here is what happened, in plain terms, and what the official numbers say today.
What happened: bird flu, not greed or tariffs
The main cause was highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), usually called bird flu. When the virus is found in a commercial flock, the birds are culled to stop it spreading. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the wave that ran from mid-October 2024 through early March 2025 led to the loss of 50.7 million egg-laying hens.
Fewer hens means fewer eggs, and demand for eggs barely changes when prices rise. People still need them for breakfast and baking. With supply tight and demand steady, wholesale prices jumped. USDA reports that wholesale egg prices peaked at $8.20 a dozen in February 2025, and retail prices hit an all-time high around the same time.
It also takes time to rebuild a flock. A farm can’t replace laying hens overnight, so prices stayed high for months even after new outbreaks slowed.
What eggs cost now
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks the average price of a dozen Grade A large eggs in U.S. cities every month. In August 2026, that average was $2.27, down from $3.59 in August 2025, a drop of about 37%.
You may also see a different number in the news. USDA’s Food Price Outlook says egg prices were 23.0% lower in August 2026 than in August 2025, and it forecasts egg prices to fall 29.4% over 2026 as a whole. Both are official, and both are right. They just measure different things: BLS’s average price follows one specific product (a dozen Grade A large), while USDA’s figures follow the Consumer Price Index for eggs, which covers more egg types and sizes.
For the latest month, our egg price page pulls the BLS average automatically, with a 13-month history so you can see the whole rise and fall.
The month-by-month path back down
Here is the BLS average price for a dozen Grade A large eggs since the summer of 2025. It shows how slowly prices fall once supply recovers.
| Month | Average price, dozen |
|---|---|
| July 2025 | $3.60 |
| August 2025 | $3.59 |
| September 2025 | $3.49 |
| November 2025 | $2.86 |
| December 2025 | $2.71 |
| January 2026 | $2.58 |
| February 2026 | $2.50 |
| March 2026 | $2.35 |
| April 2026 | $2.25 |
| May 2026 | $2.19 |
| June 2026 | $2.14 |
| July 2026 | $2.19 |
| August 2026 | $2.27 |
Notice the small rise over the summer of 2026. Monthly prices wobble for ordinary reasons, like seasonal demand and regional supply, so one month up doesn’t mean another spike is coming. The trend over the year is what matters.
Wholesale vs. the price you pay
When people read that “egg prices fell 40%” and then see a higher number at the store, they’re usually comparing wholesale and retail. Wholesale prices are what grocery chains pay producers, and they react within days. Retail prices include the store’s costs for transport, staff, rent and spoilage, plus its margin, and they move more slowly. USDA’s chart shows exactly this pattern: retail prices fell in 2025 after wholesale prices did, with a lag.
Stores also use eggs as a “loss leader” at times, pricing them low to bring people in. That can make prices differ a lot between two stores in the same town during the same week.
Why your store’s price may not match
- It’s an average. Prices differ by region, store and brand. A city with higher rents and wages usually has higher grocery prices.
- Cage-free and organic cost more. Several states require cage-free eggs, and those cost more to produce.
- Stores move at different speeds. Some lower prices quickly when wholesale prices fall; others wait to recover earlier losses.
Could it happen again?
Yes. Bird flu outbreaks tend to rise during spring and fall migration, when wild birds spread the virus, and the virus is still around. If it hits large laying flocks again, prices can jump again. Nobody can predict exactly when, which is why the best protection is a flexible grocery plan rather than stockpiling.
How to buy eggs without overpaying
What the price change means for one family
Take the Johnson family in Columbus: two adults and two kids who go through about three dozen eggs a week. At the August 2025 average ($3.59), that’s roughly $43 a month. At the August 2026 average ($2.27), it’s about $27. Same eggs, about $16 a month back in their grocery budget.
- Compare the per-egg price. An 18-count pack is often cheaper per egg than a dozen. Divide the price by the number of eggs.
- Check the store brand. Grade A large eggs from a store brand meet the same USDA grade standard as name brands.
- Freeze extras. Eggs can be cracked, beaten and frozen for baking, so a sale doesn’t go to waste.
- Swap when prices spike. For baking, many recipes work with substitutes like applesauce or a flax mixture; for protein, dried beans and lentils are among the cheapest options per serving.
Are eggs safe to eat during bird flu outbreaks?
Flocks found to have bird flu are removed from the food supply, which is the reason the outbreaks cut supply so sharply. The standard kitchen advice applies either way: cook eggs until the whites and yolks are firm, keep raw eggs away from ready-to-eat food, and wash your hands after handling them. If you have a specific health concern, check the latest guidance from USDA and the CDC.
Eggs are still one of the cheapest proteins
Even at the 2025 peak, eggs were good value compared with most meat. At the August 2026 average of $2.27 a dozen, one egg costs about 19 cents. For comparison, using the same month’s BLS averages:
| Food | Average price | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs, Grade A large | $2.27 a dozen | 19¢ an egg |
| Dried beans | $1.63 a lb | One of the lowest-cost proteins per serving |
| Whole chicken | $2.01 a lb | Cheapest common meat per pound |
| Chicken breast, boneless | $4.17 a lb | About twice the whole bird |
| Ground beef | $6.92 a lb | Up 9.6% in a year |
Should you stock up when prices are low?
Only a little. Fresh eggs in the shell keep for several weeks in the fridge when stored in their carton at the back of the shelf rather than in the door, but they don’t keep for months. Buying two cartons instead of one when the price drops is sensible. Buying ten isn’t. If you bake a lot, beaten eggs freeze well in labeled portions, which is the best way to lock in a low price.
The same goes for worrying about another spike. Nobody, including USDA, can tell you exactly when bird flu will hit large flocks again. A household that knows a few egg-free breakfasts and baking swaps will ride out the next spike better than one with a fridge full of cartons.
What this tells you about grocery prices in general
Eggs are an extreme case, but the pattern is common: a supply shock pushes one item up fast, and it comes down slowly. Overall, USDA forecasts that food-at-home prices will rise 2.4% in 2026, much less than eggs fell. Some items are still rising faster: BLS data shows ground beef up nearly 10% and coffee up about 5% from August 2025 to August 2026.
If eggs or anything else is squeezing your budget, our grocery budget calculator helps you set a realistic weekly amount, and our guide to cutting your grocery bill has more specific swaps.
