U.S. egg prices have finally dropped, but record highs aren't over that easy
Prices remain near historic highs as bird flu still wipes out flocks of egg-laying hens
If you had asked us this time last year whether we'd be breathlessly awaiting the latest report on U.S. egg prices, well, we might have said you'd cracked.
Yet here we are, in 2025, where the cost of an omelette has become not just an overall marker of the U.S. economy, but a symbol of frustration over U.S. President Donald Trump's policies. On the social media platform X, for instance, a popular account has asked the same question every single day since Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20: "Has Trump lowered the cost of eggs?"
And every day, the same answer: "no." (Sometimes, "nah" or, "nope.)"
But now, we breathlessly await today's post (could it be, "Kind of?" "Marginally? "Yep?"), because after months of record-high prices that have left retailers and businesses scrambling, the cost of eggs in the U.S. has finally dropped — relatively speaking.
The average price for a dozen Grade A eggs dropped 12.7 per cent to $5.12 US ($7.17 Cdn) in April, according to the Consumer Price Index released Tuesday. It was the first month-to-month decline in egg prices since October 2024.
Still, egg prices remain near historic highs as a persistent outbreak of bird flu continues to wipe out flocks of egg-laying hens. The April figure is 79 per cent higher than the same month a year earlier, when the price averaged $2.86 US ($4 Cdn) per dozen.
Overall, the index for food decreased 0.1 per cent in April, "driven primarily by a 12.7-per cent decrease in the index for eggs," according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the last 12 months, the index for eggs increased by 49.3 per cent.
"Price levels to the consumer have eased considerably from early-year highs but remain at levels not yet conducive to more than normal purchases needs as consumers are slow to adjust to what may be the new near-term norm," notes the USDA's most recent weekly Egg Markets Overview report from May 9.
In Canada, a dozen eggs cost $4.92 in March, according to the most recent available data from Statistics Canada — roughly 31 per cent cheaper than if you bought them south of the border.
Tariffs could drive prices back up
Lowering egg prices has been a particular focus for Trump, who made a campaign promise to bring down food costs on Day 1 of his presidency.
In March, U.S. egg prices increased again to reach a new record-high average of $6.23 US per dozen, or about $8.73 Cdn. That's up from about $5.90 US per dozen in February and about $4.95 in January.
While wholesale egg prices have been coming down for a while, it was unclear how much store prices would decrease in April because consumer demand is usually high around Easter and Passover.
Late last month, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told CNN that a retail price drop for eggs was "coming."
But as BNN Bloomberg reports, Trump's tariffs could drive prices back up. For instance, Vital Farms Inc. — whose retailers include Target and Whole Foods — said last week it's raising its shell egg prices this month, citing tariffs.
"As we progressed into the year and we started to learn more about the impact of tariffs, for example, on the cost of various commodities, we thought it was prudent to take this modest price increase to ensure that we're in good, great shape to deliver on our commitments for this year," chief executive officer Russell Diez-Canseco said on an earnings call Thursday.
Meanwhile, bird flu outbreaks on two farms in Ohio and South Dakota last month affected more than 927,000 egg-laying hens. Bird flu has killed more than 169 million birds in the U.S. since early 2022. Any time a bird gets sick, the entire flock is killed to help keep bird flu from spreading.
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With files from the Associated Press