What once felt like a luxury seems to have once again become an affordable everyday necessity.
In January 2025, egg prices were soaring that some U.S. retailers were charging more than $9 for 12 eggs. Avian flu has reduced supplies, leaving grocery store shelves empty and some stores imposing purchasing limits. People online joked about using their retirement savings to buy cartons.
Currently, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
Egg prices in January fell a seasonally adjusted 7% month-on-month and 34.2% year-on-year, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report released Friday. The CPI is the government’s main measure of consumer inflation, tracking how the prices of commonly purchased goods and services change.
This price drop was the largest year-over-year decline for all goods and services in the January CPI report.
The average price of large Grade A eggs has retreated to the $2 range, approaching historic levels but still elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The price fluctuations are primarily related to avian influenza, which has disrupted the U.S. egg supply for years and has affected more than 174 million poultry birds since the outbreak began in early 2022, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
Industry group Eggs Unlimited says seasonality is also a factor, as demand typically increases during the holiday baking season and eases in January.
Supply shock and rebound
According to USDA market data, in January 2025 alone, avian influenza wiped out nearly 19 million layer hens, about 8% of traditional flocks. The sudden loss of supply led to higher prices.
In contrast, losses in January 2026 totaled about 2.8 million birds, about 1% of the traditional flock.
Although avian influenza is still impacting the industry, the scale of the disruption has been much smaller than a year ago, and production has been able to recover.
The USDA projects average egg prices in 2026 to be about 39% lower than in 2025, reflecting improved production after last year’s outbreak.
Still, the egg market remains susceptible to disease outbreaks, and those predictions could quickly change if a new wave of bird flu strains supplies.
Want to improve your communication, confidence, and success at work? Take CNBC’s new online course, Mastering Body Language for Influence. Sign up now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD to receive a 20% off introductory discount. Offer valid from February 9th to February 23rd, 2026. Terms and conditions apply.
