Egg prices hit record highs in US due to bird flu outbreak

An accelerating outbreak of bird flu in laying hens has sharply reduced egg supplies in the United States at a time of high Christmas consumption, causing prices to break records. Wholesale prices for large eggs hit $5.57 a dozen in the Midwest on Monday, up 150% from a year ago and surpassing the previous record of $5.46 in December 2022, according to commodity data firm Expana. In California, supplies are further limited by rules that prohibit farmers from raising hens in cages. There, eggs hit a record $8.85 a dozen. These high prices are favorable for producers who manage to avoid bird flu outbreaks and are not bound by long-term price agreements that help control costs at some large retailers. But consumers could be hurt. The average retail price for a dozen eggs topped $3.60 in November, up from $2.50 at the start of the year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only in September was the average price higher, at $3.80. Retailers have been slow to pass on the ...