Current National Average Egg Price
The national average price for a dozen large eggs in the United States is approximately $4.15 to $4.30 for conventional shell eggs, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index data for food at home. Retail prices vary by region, store format, and egg type, with organic, pasture-raised, and specialty eggs often priced 30 to 100 percent higher than the conventional average. The BLS tracks these figures monthly as part of its food CPI basket, providing a clear benchmark for consumers and analysts. For the most recent detailed food price outlook, see the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service reports here.
Wholesale egg prices, which influence retail pricing, have fluctuated significantly over the past two years due to highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks and subsequent flock reductions. The USDA's Market News service publishes daily wholesale egg price reports for major producing regions, including the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and West. These reports show that wholesale cage-free and organic egg prices typically trade at a premium over conventional eggs, reflecting higher production costs and tighter supply. Retailers such as Walmart, Kroger, and Costco pass through these wholesale cost changes to consumers, often adjusting shelf prices within days of major market moves.
Key Factors Driving Egg Prices
Avian influenza remains the primary driver of national egg price volatility, with the USDA confirming multiple detections in commercial poultry flocks since early 2022. These outbreaks have required the depopulation of millions of laying hens, reducing national egg output and tightening supply chains. Feed costs, primarily corn and soybean meal, also influence egg prices, as feed represents roughly 60 to 70 percent of total production costs for a laying hen. When corn or soybean prices rise due to weather, export demand, or geopolitical factors, egg producers face higher input costs that are often passed on to consumers.
Regulatory and welfare standards add another layer of cost variation across states. California's Proposition 12, which requires eggs sold in the state to come from cage-free hens, has created a distinct price floor for eggs sold in California and in states that import California-compliant eggs. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings of major publicly traded food companies, including Cal-Maine Foods, the largest shell egg producer in the United States, provide insight into how producers manage these cost pressures. Cal-Maine Foods' quarterly earnings reports detail flock sizes, egg pricing, and the impact of avian influenza on production costs here.
Egg Price Trends and Consumer Impact
Year-over-year egg price inflation has been among the highest in the food CPI category, with conventional egg prices more than doubling during the peak of the 2022-2023 avian influenza cycle. The Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data shows that egg prices have since moderated from those peaks but remain elevated compared to pre-outbreak levels, reflecting ongoing supply rebuilding and persistent avian influenza risks. The USDA's Food Price Outlook for 2024 projects that retail egg prices will remain above historical averages, with modest year-over-year declines expected if flock rebuilding continues and no major new avian influenza outbreaks occur.
Consumers have responded to higher egg prices by shifting purchasing behavior, including buying in bulk at warehouse clubs, choosing alternative proteins, or opting for lower-cost egg formats such as liquid eggs for food service use. Food service operators, including restaurant chains and institutional food providers, have adjusted menus and portion sizes to manage egg input costs. The USDA's Economic Research Service tracks these substitution effects in its food expenditure data, showing that per capita egg consumption