Egg prices working to recover after record year with High Path Avian Flu

Retail egg prices have fallen from record highs, but as producers work to rebuild flocks decimated by High Path Avian Flu, USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam says there is still a lot of work to do.

This time of year usually draws the highest demand for eggs both commercially and in the home.

“As we move into this period of strong demand, we are looking at relatively tight supplies of eggs. If we look at the most recent information on table eeg production, we’re down about 6% from where we were a year ago. The egg laying flock is also down. It’s down about 4% from last year,” Shagam said.

Right now the average price for a dozen eggs is around $3.50. Just a year ago the same carton cost about $2.41.

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