In the market basket location in certain areas of Massachusetts, customers are required to Restricting their eggs Each family buy two cartons. Another shopper, this is the shopper of Las Vegas. It is also looking for eggs and reported to find an empty shelf in a local grocery store. In social media, a consumers who are used to paying about $ 2 for twelve eggs are shocked by more than twice the amount that must be paid.
The shortage of eggs, restrictions and creative prices are in the US supermarket, which is a fatal avian influenza. Continue to decay The country's poultry group. For consumers who are still trying to digest food costs, this may mean that the price of eggs in 2025 is even higher.
Federal data shows that the average price of twelve large eggs in December was $ 4.15, an increase of 14 % over US $ 3.65 in November. This increases by more than 60 % over $ 2.51 of the 12 eggs in December 2023 Tracker reveal.
In contrast, according to the latest consumer price index data, the overall monthly inflation rate of food in December was 2.5 %, and the food costs at home only increased by 0.3 %.
Like egg cream, the price of eggs is rising to the height in front of us. When does it end? The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that soon, the report predicted in a recent report that the price of eggs will soar another 20 % this year.
Why is the price of eggs soaring?
According to USDA data, behind the price and shortage of eggs is a highly pathogenic bird flu (HPAI), that is, H5N1, only in December, it will cause 13.2 million commercial egg hens to kill 13.2 million killed. And continue to reduce the herd to 2025. Essence The outbreak of H5N1 was discovered for the first time in 2022 and was considered to be the main driving force for the price of egg prices for many years.
H5N1's mortality in infected poultry and wild birds is very high. He is closely paying close attention to the US Disease Control and Prevention Center, which is a potential public health threat. So far, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control has received one Report of a person's death After the virus was hospitalized. According to data from the American Veterinary Medicine Association, the average mortality and elimination rate are 2 % or lower in cattle. However, the official warned that H5N1 was Cat fatal
At present, the virus is still the thorns of the American consumers Enough inflationEssence
“For about a year and a half, the frequency and severity of the bird flu in the poultry and egg supply chain have greatly increased,” the agricultural enterprise of Cal Poly State University, Professor Ricky Volpe,, Cal Poly State University. San Luis Obispo told CBS MoneyWatch. “Everyone wants,” Okay, this will be the last one, and then we will return to normal. “But we are constantly returning to normal. ”
According to the January report of TD COWEN, more than 79.3 million chickens died in 2022 and 2023 due to H5N1 infection and related elimination. According to data from the University of Minnesas' infectious diseases in infectious diseases, it is estimated that H5N1 has caused nearly 139 million bird losses across the country, including Puerto Rico.
Perseverance rate
There are several factors that lead to soaring eggs. First, the outbreak of bird influenza is destroying the US supply chain. On the farm, this means that the virus is found at any time, and the entire sheep must be slaughtered to help restrict the spread of the virus. Moreover, as huge egg farms usually accommodate more than 1 million chickens, only a few infections will cause supply tightening.
Volpe said: “This is a industry that can quickly correct itself.” “The problem is that it is actually like a national Whack-A Moore game-once it is dealt with more or less, another outbreak, and another A burst will appear elsewhere. ”
If you have good news for farmers and shoppers, it does not take a long time to supplement eggs.
“From a historical point of view, we see that the price of eggs and chickens is very different, but in general, things that must be poured are facts, because chickens only need six weeks to reach maturity and ready. Said, I think that the eggs that can be sold regularly every day are actually much less than that of eggs. “
The second factor that promotes the price of eggs: The continuous shortage of American truck drivers, with more and more drivers retire, this is an increasingly more problem. As the driver transports eggs less to retailers, wholesalers are forced to increase the transportation costs paid by retailers.
Volpe said: “Refrigerated truck transportation is a major pain point in the current food supply chain. Driver shortages, the price of long -distance trucks has risen, and eggs are of course very dense.” Essence
As a part of the solution to this problem, Volpe recommends that retailers purchase eggs as much as possible.
“[Local suppliers] It is completely separated from these bird flu or any other systematic problems, so the supply is healthy. Therefore, it is meaningful to increase supply among local growers. These growers do not face major issues related to bird flu and transportation. “
Why is the price of eggs in some stores decreased?
Just as retailers use Thanksgiving turkey promotion to attract customers, some grocery stores across the country also offers lower egg prices to attract store traffic.
“You can do it on social media. You will see someone complaining about the $ 8 eggs, and then the others will sing, and then go to” I just bought it at a price of $ 4. Okay, I will definitely guarantee you, I will definitely guarantee you, This is sold at a loss, which is a kind of competitive effort to increase the flow of people. “Walp said. “Maybe eggs will be sold at a loss, but now you have to buy milk, bread and vegetables, everything else, these will have a normal profit margin.”
Translation: If you find a lot of transactions on the eggs of the store, then you will eventually be roughly the same as the entire grocery basket.
The report made contributions.
