US Egg Prices Hit Their Lowest Since 2019

US egg prices jumped back above $1.20 per dozen from a multi year low near $0.33 on January 13 as a rapid tightening in physical supply met a short lived demand shock. On the supply side, renewed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza triggered fresh culling of laying hens across several major US producing states, cutting flock sizes and reducing wholesale availability just as inventories were starting to rebuild. That domestic shortfall was compounded by new bird flu cases in Europe, especially in the Netherlands’ most egg intensive region, which disrupted export flows and pushed foreign buyers into the spot market, tightening global availability. Elevated feed costs, led by corn and soybean meal, have also lifted marginal production costs, slowing the pace of output recovery. On the demand side, a severe Arctic cold snap in mid January boosted near term retail buying through increased home cooking, baking, and precautionary restocking, amplifying the price response.

US egg prices rose above $0.65 per dozen, rebounding from their lowest levels since 2019 of $0.33 seen January 13th as near term supply and demand conditions tightened. Renewed avian influenza outbreaks forced the culling of millions of laying hens, shrinking flock sizes and reducing wholesale availability, which quickly reversed the prior downtrend in negotiated prices. At the same time, a fresh wave of bird flu in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands’ most egg intensive production region, disrupted cross border flows and pushed international buyers into the open market, reinforcing global supply tightness. Higher and more volatile feed costs have further lifted marginal production expenses, limiting producers’ ability to restore output quickly. On the demand side, an intense Arctic cold snap boosted short term retail consumption through home cooking, baking, and precautionary restocking ahead of winter storms, turning relatively small supply shortfalls into a sharp rebound.

US egg prices fell to around $0.45 per dozen, sliding to their lowest levels since 2019 as heavier near term supply met softer demand following the holiday period. The sharp decline reflects rapid flock rebuilding after the HPAI shock earlier in 2025, which had driven prices to record highs through large scale culling. By late 2025 producers were restoring capacity, and NASS data show layer counts and monthly egg production stabilizing from earlier troughs, lifting effective supply well above the levels that had previously tightened the market. At the same time demand cooled as holiday pull forward faded, retail feature activity slowed, and carton purchases eased, while restaurants rolled back temporary egg surcharges as wholesale relief filtered through the system. These dynamics were reinforced by structural shifts, including a normalization of selling patterns among large processors, leaving more conventional eggs available for wholesale trade.