With Christmas approaching, many people are busy preparing festive meals and baking cookies and cakes, leading to a significant increase in the demand for eggs. At the same time, avian flu continues to spread among poultry in the United States, causing a decrease in egg supply. As 2024 comes to an end, egg prices have once again soared across the United States. Some Costco members shared on social media that the egg shelves at their local Costco had been cleared out.
Data released by agricultural product price information providers showed that on December 18th, wholesale prices for large eggs in the Midwest of the United States reached $5.57 per dozen, not only a 150% increase compared to the same period last year but also surpassing the previous record of $5.46 per dozen set in December 2022. The price of eggs in California has seen a remarkable surge recently, with wholesale prices soaring to as high as $8.85 per dozen.
According to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at the beginning of 2024, the average price for a dozen Grade A large eggs was $2.50; by October, the price had risen to $3.37, and in November, it climbed even further to $3.65.
Consumers on the social media platform Reddit have shared photos revealing that a Costco in the Los Angeles area has been sold out of eggs for multiple days. This is not the first time egg shortages have occurred.
The sharp increase in egg prices and shortages can be attributed to the increased demand during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, as well as the ongoing spread of avian flu in poultry farms across the United States. Constant culling of chicken flocks is being carried out to prevent the spread of the H5N1 virus strain, leading to a decrease in egg production nationwide and disrupting the egg supply chain.
According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, egg production in November decreased by 4% compared to October. Additionally, data also shows that the number of mother hens on U.S. farms has decreased by approximately 3%.
As the scale of H5N1 avian flu infections on dairy farms continues to grow, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on December 18th and stated that the state government would take comprehensive measures to address the situation.
Furthermore, health officials across the United States are increasingly concerned about the rising number of human cases infected with avian flu, which could potentially lead to another outbreak. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that in 2024, 65 people have been infected with avian flu. The first severe case was detected in Louisiana, where the infected individual had to be hospitalized due to severe symptoms. This has heightened people’s concerns, as most previous cases of avian flu infections had mild symptoms.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of H5N1 avian flu infection in humans may include red eye disease, fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, nasal congestion or runny nose, and difficulty breathing.