U.S. egg prices have experienced a dramatic decline this year, dropping approximately 60% from the record highs witnessed in 2025. This significant reduction is providing much-needed relief for consumers as they prepare for Easter and Passover celebrations, making it more affordable to stock up on essentials like eggs.
Factors Behind the Price Drop
The primary driver of last year's soaring egg prices was a severe outbreak of bird flu, which devastated poultry flocks across the nation. During the first five months of 2025, the highly contagious disease forced farmers and commercial producers to cull entire broods of egg-laying hens, leading to a sharp decrease in supply and record retail prices.
However, the situation began to improve in the latter half of 2025 as bird flu cases started to ebb. According to Mark Jordan, the executive director of agricultural research firm LEAP Market Analytics, this decline in infections has been instrumental in restoring egg supplies. Farmers have been rapidly replenishing their flocks, with the number of egg-type chicks hatched in the U.S. increasing by 8% between July 2024 and July 2025. This marks the first sustained and substantial rise in the availability of specially-bred layer chicks since the bird flu outbreak began in 2022.
Impact of Government Actions
In addition to the easing of bird flu, the Trump administration's decision to import nearly 1 billion eggs last year played a crucial role in lowering prices. Jordan noted that these imports helped stabilise the market, although they have since returned to more normal levels. Furthermore, the U.S. reduced its egg exports to bolster domestic supplies, contributing to the overall price decrease.
Challenges for Farmers
While consumers are benefiting from lower prices, the situation is far from favourable for farmers. Many are struggling to recoup their production costs as egg prices plummet. Emily Metz, the president and CEO of the American Egg Board, highlighted that farmers have been selling eggs at or below the cost of production in recent months. This financial strain is exacerbated by rising feed costs, including for corn and soybean meal, partly due to the ongoing Iran war.
Metz emphasised that while volatility is inherent in the agricultural business, the current conditions are particularly challenging. Farmers face a delicate balance between meeting consumer demand and maintaining profitability, with many operating at a loss.
Key Statistics on U.S. Egg Prices
Here is a detailed look at the numbers shaping the U.S. egg market, based on government figures and industry data:
- $2.50 per dozen: The average U.S. price for a dozen eggs in February of this year.
- $6.23 per dozen: The average U.S. price for a dozen eggs in March 2025, which set an all-time high record.
- 315.8 million: The number of egg-laying hens in the U.S. as of March 1, representing an 8% increase from the previous year.
- 45 million: The number of egg-laying hens in Iowa, the top egg-producing state in the U.S.
- 205.7 million: The total number of chickens and other birds in commercial and backyard flocks that have died or been culled due to bird flu since February 2022.
- 5.22 million: The number of chickens and other birds that died or were culled because of bird flu in March 2026, more than double the figure from March 2025.
- 657%: The percentage increase in U.S. imports of shell eggs in 2025 compared to the previous year.
- $1.05: The average cost for farmers to produce a dozen eggs, excluding labor and transportation, according to the American Egg Board. In late March, the national average wholesale price of eggs was $1.17 per dozen.
- 40,000: The number of real eggs that will be used for this year's White House Easter Egg Roll.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the bird flu outbreak continues to affect U.S. poultry flocks, with the number of infected commercial flocks rising in March. However, the overall trend points towards a recovery in supply, albeit with significant financial repercussions for the agricultural sector.
