Egg Prices Drop Sharply After Record March Highs \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ U.S. retail egg prices dropped in April for the first time in six months, falling 12.7% after hitting record highs in March. While prices remain historically elevated due to bird flu losses, fewer outbreaks and seasonal demand shifts contributed to the drop. Imports and federal investments are also helping stabilize supply.
Quick Looks
- Average U.S. egg price dropped to $5.12 in April.
- Prices declined 12.7% month-over-month — the steepest drop since 1984.
- Bird flu outbreaks slowed significantly between February and April.
- Prices are still 79% higher than April 2024 averages.
- One outbreak can affect millions of hens; recovery takes months.
- USDA investing $1B in biosecurity; DOJ probing Cal-Maine Foods.
- U.S. egg imports surged 77.5% year-over-year in Q1 2025.
- Demand typically falls post-Easter, easing market pressure.
Deep Look
After months of historically high prices, U.S. retail egg costs finally began to ease in April, offering relief to consumers who’ve faced surging grocery bills. According to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price for a dozen Grade A eggs dropped to $5.12, down from $6.23 in March, marking the first monthly decline since October 2024.
Overall, egg prices fell 12.7% month-over-month, the sharpest decline seen since March 1984. The drop follows months of volatility driven by the worst avian influenza outbreak in U.S. history, which has decimated egg-laying flocks and kept prices elevated through much of 2024 and early 2025.
Still Near Record Highs, But Declining
While the decline is notable, egg prices remain significantly higher than a year ago. The average price of a dozen large eggs in April was still 79% higher than the same time in 2024, when they averaged just $2.86 per dozen.
David L. Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, says the dip is likely part of a seasonal and structural correction. “Demand typically falls after Easter,” Ortega said. “Coupled with fewer recent bird flu outbreaks, that’s helping to relieve pressure on supply and pricing.”
Bird Flu Outbreaks Show Signs of Slowing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that bird flu outbreaks at commercial poultry operations dropped sharply in recent months: from 59 outbreaks in February, to 12 in March, and just 3 in April. The improved trajectory has allowed egg supply chains to stabilize modestly, though experts caution that the virus remains a high-risk variable.
Ortega emphasized that while April’s downturn is encouraging, it’s not guaranteed to continue. “If even a single large commercial flock is affected, prices can spike again. The virus is unpredictable, and recovery takes time.”
That’s partly because of how biosecurity measures work in poultry farming. Once bird flu is detected on a farm, the entire flock is culled to prevent spread. It can then take up to a year to disinfect facilities, repopulate hens, and resume full egg production.
U.S. Government Steps Up Intervention
In response to soaring prices and consumer pressure, the Trump administration announced in February a $1 billion USDA initiative to help egg farmers improve biosecurity and prevent future outbreaks.
The U.S. has also ramped up egg imports. According to Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute’s Kevin Bergquist, egg and egg product imports rose by 77.5% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to Q1 2024. Countries like South Korea, Brazil, and Turkey have helped fill the gap in domestic supply.
While these efforts are easing short-term shortages, long-term price normalization depends on preventing new waves of infection, especially during the colder months when bird flu spreads more rapidly.
Scrutiny on Egg Industry Profits
The federal government is also examining the business side of the egg pricing surge. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division is investigating Cal-Maine Foods, the nation’s largest egg producer, which supplies around 20% of America’s eggs.
Cal-Maine confirmed the investigation in early April. In its most recent financial report, the company announced $508.5 million in net income for the quarter ending March 1 — more than triple its earnings for the same quarter last year. Critics say this raises questions about price manipulation or excess profiteering during a time of consumer strain.
The Road Ahead
Although April’s price drop is a positive sign, experts and analysts remain cautious. The egg market is highly sensitive to supply shocks, especially in a country where a single farm can house millions of egg-laying hens. Outbreaks at just two farms in Ohio and South Dakota in April impacted nearly 927,000 birds — a stark reminder of how fragile recovery efforts remain.
For now, consumers may continue to see slightly lower egg prices in grocery stores through May and June, especially with declining seasonal demand. However, lasting relief will depend on the continued containment of avian flu and careful regulatory oversight.
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