Bird flu drives US egg prices to record highs before Christmas

Published 2024년 12월 20일

Tridge summary

Record high wholesale egg prices in the U.S. are being driven by an outbreak of bird flu impacting laying hens and consumer demand for holiday treats. Prices have surged to $5.57 a dozen in the Midwest and $8.85 in California, marking a significant increase from the previous year. The price hike is exacerbated by inflation and potential tariffs, with retailers delaying passing on higher costs to customers. The outbreak has resulted in the death of nearly 123 million poultry, leading to a decrease in the egg-laying flock and production. The situation is further complicated by concerns over wild birds spreading the virus and the potential for delivery trucks to carry the virus from dairy farms. Human cases of the virus have been reported, though most have been mild. The USDA is funding research into vaccines to protect poultry and cows from the bird flu and is considering continuing support for vaccine development under the Trump administration.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

By Leah Douglas and Tom Polansek (Reuters) - U.S. wholesale egg prices are hitting record highs as an accelerating outbreak of bird flu in laying hens reduces supplies while consumers buy more to make Christmas cookies and other holiday treats. The increases are hurting consumers already battling stubborn inflation and bracing for potentially higher prices on a wide range of items if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with plans to impose tariffs on goods from China and Mexico. Wholesale prices for large eggs reached $5.57 a dozen in the Midwest on Wednesday, up 150% from a year ago and surpassing the previous record of $5.46 set in December 2022, commodities data firm Expana said. The prices are even harder to bear in California, where supplies are more constrained by rules that ban farmers from raising hens in cages. There, eggs hit a record $8.85 a dozen, Expana said. These high prices are a boon for producers who have managed to avoid outbreaks of bird flu and are ...

Source: NoticiasAgricolas