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Roya News
13-05-2025
- Business
- Roya News
US retail egg prices drop for first time since October 2024
Retail egg prices in the US experienced a notable decline in April, following a surge earlier this year, according to the latest data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released on Tuesday. The average cost of a dozen Grade A eggs dropped to USD 5.12 in April, down from the record high of USD 6.23 set in March. This marked the first month-to-month decrease in egg prices since October 2024, Associated Press (AP) reported. Overall, the price of eggs, across all sizes, decreased by 12.7 percent, which represents the largest monthly decline since March 1984. Despite wholesale egg prices having been on the decline for some time, it was uncertain how much retail prices would fall in April, as consumer demand typically spikes during Easter and Passover. However, even with the drop, retail egg prices remain significantly elevated due to the ongoing bird flu crisis, which continues to decimate egg-laying hen populations. In fact, the average price in April was still 79 percent higher compared to the same month last year, when the price was USD 2.86 per dozen. Since early 2022, bird flu has led to the deaths of more than 169 million birds. In an effort to prevent the virus from spreading, entire flocks are slaughtered whenever a bird is infected. The recovery process can take up to a year, as farms must clean their facilities and raise new flocks to egg-laying age, which can significantly impact supply. For instance, recent outbreaks in Ohio and South Dakota affected more than 927,000 egg-laying hens. Addressing the issue of high egg prices has been a focus of the Trump administration. In February, the US Department of Agriculture announced a USD 1 billion investment to help farmers improve biosecurity measures to combat bird flu. Additionally, the US has been increasing imports of eggs from countries like South Korea, Turkey, and Brazil. According to Kevin Bergquist, Sector Manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, egg and egg product imports surged by 77.5 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice's antitrust division is investigating Cal-Maine Foods, the largest US egg producer, which supplies approximately 20 percent of the country's eggs. Cal-Maine reported a massive increase in its net income, which more than tripled to USD 508.5 million in its latest quarter ending March 1.
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First Post
13-05-2025
- Health
- First Post
Trump's prediction finally comes true, US egg prices fall but still remain record high
Bird flu has killed more than 169 million birds since early 2022. Any time a bird gets sick, the entire flock is killed to help keep bird flu from spreading. Once a flock is slaughtered, it can take as long as a year to clean a farm and raise new birds to egg-laying age. read more US retail egg prices fell in April from the record-high prices they hit earlier this year, according to government data released Tuesday. The average price for a dozen Grade A eggs declined to $5.12 last month after reaching a record $6.23 in March, according to the Consumer Price Index. It was the first month-to-month drop in egg prices since October 2024. Overall, the average price of eggs of all sizes fell 12.7%, the steepest monthly decline since March 1984. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. Still, retail egg prices remain near historic highs as a persistent outbreak of bird flu wipes out flocks of egg-laying hens. The April average price for a dozen large eggs was 79% higher than the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported for the same month a year ago, when the price averaged $2.86 per dozen. Bird flu has killed more than 169 million birds since early 2022. Any time a bird gets sick, the entire flock is killed to help keep bird flu from spreading. Once a flock is slaughtered, it can take as long as a year to clean a farm and raise new birds to egg-laying age. That can have an effect on the egg supply because massive egg farms may have millions of birds. Outbreaks on two farms in Ohio and South Dakota last month affected more than 927,000 egg-laying hens. Lowering egg prices has been a particular focus of President Donald Trump. In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would invest $1 billion to help farmers improve their biosecurity measures to fight bird flu. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The U.S. has also increased imports of eggs from South Korea, Turkey, Brazil and other countries. According to Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Sector Manager Kevin Bergquist, the volume of egg and egg product imports increased 77.5% during the first three months of the year compared to the same period a year ago. The antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating Cal-Maine Foods, the largest U.S. egg producer, which supplies around 20% of America's eggs. Cal-Maine confirmed the investigation in early April.. Ridgeland, Mississippi-based Cal-Maine said its net income more than tripled to $508.5 million in its most recent quarter, which ended March 1.
Boston Globe
13-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
US egg prices fall for the first time in months but remain near record highs
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. Still, retail egg prices remain near historic highs as a persistent outbreak of bird flu wipes out flocks of egg-laying hens. The April figure is 79 percent higher than the same month a year ago, when the price averaged $2.86 per dozen. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Bird flu has killed more than 169 million birds since early 2022. Any time a bird gets sick, the entire flock is killed to help keep bird flu from spreading. Once a flock is slaughtered, it can take as long as a year to clean a farm and raise new birds to egg-laying age. Advertisement That can have an effect on the egg supply because massive egg farms may have millions of birds. Outbreaks on two farms in Ohio and South Dakota last month affected more than 927,000 egg-laying hens. Lowering egg prices has been a particular focus of President Donald Trump. In February, the US Department of Agriculture said it would invest $1 billion to help farmers improve their biosecurity measures to fight bird flu. Advertisement The US has also increased imports of eggs from South Korea, Turkey, Brazil and other countries. According to Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Sector Manager Kevin Bergquist, the volume of egg and egg product imports increased 77.5 percent during the first three months of the year compared to the same period a year ago. The antitrust division of the US Department of Justice is also investigating Cal-Maine Foods, the largest US egg producer, which supplies around 20 percent of America's eggs. Cal-Maine confirmed the investigation in early April.. Ridgeland, Mississippi-based Cal-Maine said its net income more than tripled to $508.5 million in its most recent quarter, which ended March 1.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to know about volatile egg prices as Easter approaches
Retail U.S. egg prices continue to be volatile, even as wholesale egg prices in recent weeks have declined and as demand for eggs will likely increase as the Easter holiday approaches. But egg prices at the grocery store, prices reported in some data reports like the consumer price index and prices on the wholesale market don't always match. The rise in prices has been largely driven by the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, outbreak. For instance, the latest CPI released on April 10 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows the highest price for a dozen large grade A eggs since the recent egg price crisis began. But that price and the CPI cost of eggs overall, which was up 5.9% in March, may not accurately reflect the drop in wholesale prices that started in the middle of the month. The index is an average of data collected through the month and retail prices were higher at the beginning of March, one expert said. Additionally, retailers may not have dropped prices of eggs proportionately with the drop in the wholesale egg market, which may have to do with retailers wanting to take advantage of recent worries about scarcity to keep prices high and upcoming demand for Easter, some experts say. According to the CPI, the average U.S. city price of a dozen large grade A eggs at retail stores, not seasonally adjusted for March, was $6.23. That's up from $5.90 in February and $4.95 in January. Overall, egg costs jumped another 5.9% in March, which was not as high as the 10.4% in February or 15.2% in January, when seasonally adjusted, according to the latest CPI released on April 10. There was a 60.4% increase in egg prices in the last 12 months. But wholesale prices, which are reported in a different government report, are nearly half the price of the CPI reported for March. The last report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on April 4 listed the average wholesale price of loose, white large shell eggs at $3.26 per dozen, up 26 cents from the previous week. The next weekly report will be released on April 11. "We are continuing to see an increase in egg prices at the consumer level due largely, in part, to supply constraints resulting from the HPAI (bird flu) virus," Kevin Bergquist, Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Sector manager, told USA TODAY. "Interestingly, egg prices at the wholesale level have been dropping week-to-week through March as the frequency of HPAI infections has diminished and supply begins to rebound." How much you pay for eggs varies widely depending on where you live. Data gathered by USA TODAY shows the prices on April 10 at several retail stores in Wildwood, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, for instance, are lower than the U.S. city average reported in the CPI. Prices for a dozen large Grade A eggs at an Aldi, Costco, Kroger, Target, Sam's Club, Walmart and Whole Foods on April 10 ranged from a low of $4.19 at Whole Foods to a high of $5.49 at Aldi. The Whole Foods price was taken from the grocer's website and the Aldi price was from Instacart. Instacart prices are set by the grocer. The CPI is determined by Bureau of Labor Statistics data employees collect during the previous month at retail stores. For March, that would be March 1 through March 31. But the index is a lagging indicator, said Jason Nickerson, principal in the food & agribusiness division of global consulting firm Kearney's consumer practice. "The reason CPI retail egg prices remain high despite falling wholesale prices comes down to timing and market dynamics," Nickerson told USA TODAY. First, there's a lag between wholesale and retail prices – retail prices often take weeks to adjust because stores sell inventory purchased at higher wholesale costs. Eggs have a shelf life of about four weeks, so the March CPI data reflects prices based on older wholesale rates. Wholesale prices started dropping significantly in mid-March, he said, so the full impact wasn't reflected in March's CPI. There was also "a significant jump to record level egg price highs in the early part of March," Amy Nixon, an independent economist based in Dallas, told USA TODAY. "Those highs are weighted into the total (CPI) number, even though we did end up seeing a drop in retail prices by the very end of the month and wholesale data suggests further price drops are ahead as well." While prices at the grocery store may have come down from highs earlier this year, there is still a lot of volatility in the egg market, which depends on demand, supply and whether there have been any more significant outbreaks of the avian flu, experts say. Retailer pricing strategies play into this, Nickerson said. "Retailers may delay passing savings to consumers to recover costs or maintain margins, especially with seasonal Easter demand keeping retail prices elevated," he said. Consumer price index Inflation eased in March but Trump's tariffs could still bite despite 90-day pause The relationship between wholesale and retail prices is always inexact, said Bergquist. "Grocers make business decisions every day as to whether a specific product price could gain or lose margin for them," Bergquist told USA TODAY. While wholesale egg prices have been declining over the past several weeks, egg prices are still above levels from prior years and long-term averages, he said. According to March's CPI, the price for some other popular staples of an Easter meal have not fluctuated much or been subjected to wild price swings, like eggs. The U.S. city average price for ham, not including canned ham or luncheon slices per pound, not seasonally adjusted, remains steady at $4.50 per pound, from $4.43 per pound in February and $4.41 per pound in January. The price in 2024 also ranged in the mid-$4 per pound range. The average U.S. city price of white potatoes per pound, not seasonally adjusted, was also steady at 95 cents per pound in March. The price in February, rounded up, was 96 cents per pound and 97 cents in January. The price in 2024 hovered around the dollar mark. Data journalist John Heasly contributed to this report. Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@ or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @ on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Egg prices remain volatile, but wholesale prices declining Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Egg prices soar 59% year over year while other breakfast foods also outpace inflation
Egg prices continue to hit new heights as customers gawk at the inflated prices. According to key data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of eggs rose 58.8% year over year in February. Prices are up 12.5% month over month. Overall grocery inflation is up 1.9% compared to a year ago. Nationally, a dozen large Grade A eggs cost nearly $5.90 in February, a new record high. The previous high was set at $4.95 this January; it was roughly $3 in February 2024. The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly referred to as bird flu, is behind the ever-increasing prices. "When a laying flock contracts the virus, the entire flock either dies or is euthanized to control the spread of the highly contagious disease," Kevin Bergquist of Wells Fargo told Yahoo Finance. He added, "Often, laying hen operations are concentrated, with well over a million birds located on a single site. So, if [the] bird flu hits a particular location, that whole flock is infected and lost, which drives up egg prices." Other breakfast foods are rising in price as well, compared to the same period a year ago. The price of bacon was up 2.7%, coffee was up 6%, and frozen non-carbonated juices and drinks such as orange juice were up nearly 7%. Some relief could be on the way for egg lovers, as prices have decreased over the past week. "The CPI is sort of backward-looking," Texas A&M University professor David Anderson told Yahoo Finance. Now, prices are declining as shoppers with sticker shock buy fewer eggs at the store, increasing the available supply. According to the USDA, the inventory of shell eggs jumped 5.2% compared to the prior week. But a real recovery will take longer, since "a company can't order a new flock of a million hens and get that overnight," Bergquist noted. It also takes "several months to sterilize the layer facilities and repopulate the location" with young hens. And if outbreaks of the bird flu continue over the next few months, which tends to happen during this time of the year, it will restart the same cycle and lead to ongoing higher prices. The new administration has said it's looking for ways to deliver on campaign promises to lower prices for Americans. In late February, United States Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced a five-part strategy to combat avian flu outbreaks in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, alongside a $1 billion plan to tackle the crisis. "It was wonderful to see the Trump administration's focus on this," Vital Farms (VITL) CEO Russell Diez-Canseco told Yahoo Finance. He noted that federal investment may help "America's egg farmers repair maybe some of that aging infrastructure that's allowing the introduction of wild animals that may be infecting birds." The Justice Department also opened an investigation into the higher prices. Egg producers have done well in this environment. Shares of America's largest egg producer, Cal-Maine Foods (CALM), and Vital Farms are up roughly 50% in the past year. "You're seeing a well-run commodity business benefit from a rise in the commodity price," New Constructs founder and CEO David Trainer told Yahoo Finance over the phone earlier this year. "When prices are high, they can make lots of money." The higher costs are also causing businesses pain. In its latest earnings call, Costco (COST) said fresh groceries were "the most inflationary" category, particularly in meat and bakery goods. For the bakery department, the big jump in egg prices offset deflation in other baking ingredients like sugar, butter, and flour. "It's really eggs that's causing the major pain there," CFO Gary Millerchip said. Other inflationary items included cocoa, coffee, cheese, and corn. Waffle House and Denny's (DENN) have added a surcharge to egg menu items. "Due to the nationwide egg shortage and increased cost of eggs, some of our restaurant locations will need to temporarily add a surcharge to every meal that includes eggs," a Denny's spokesperson told Yahoo Finance. — Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@ Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy Sign in to access your portfolio
