The Great American Egg Price Surge: How Biden-Era Policies and Avian Flu Drove Up Costs
Ah, eggs. The humble little breakfast hero. Once upon a time, you could snag a dozen for the price of a fancy coffee, maybe even with enough left over for a latte. But now? Whew, you’re practically signing away your firstborn for a carton. As a mother of four, let me tell you, this surge in egg prices is the stuff of nightmares. If you think navigating a grocery store with a cart full of kids is tough already, try explaining to your kids why eggs now cost the same as a week’s worth of car payments.
Let’s break it down, shall we?
A Trip Through Time—Egg Prices, 2016 to 2024
2016: $1.18 a dozen. I remember when $1.18 could get you more than just eggs—it could get you a bottle of milk and maybe even a bag of flour. That was the good old days.
2017-2019: Still hovering around $1.30-$1.50. Ah, those were the days when I could whip up scrambled eggs, pancakes, and still have a few bucks left over for a pack of napkins to wipe up the mess (because kids).
2020-2021: Prices bump to $1.64 and $1.47. Sure, it was 2020, but I’d have taken this price in a heartbeat amidst the chaos of that year.
2022-2023: Price surge—$2.86 in 2022 and $4.25 in 2023. I could almost hear my wallet crying in 2023. I have four kids, and when I say eggs are no longer just breakfast, I mean they are a strategic part of keeping the peace. A dozen eggs used to last a few days; now, it’s like watching a magical disappearing act before your eyes.
2024: A slight dip to $4.15, but let’s be honest—no one’s doing a happy dance over a 10-cent drop.
So, why has the price of eggs shot up faster than my caffeine intake on a Monday morning? Buckle up, mama, it’s quite the rollercoaster.
The Culprits: Avian Flu, Fires, and Inflation
First, we’ve got the avian flu. Imagine being a chicken and waking up to find out half your friends are being “culled”—sounds like something straight out of a bad chicken horror movie, right? Tens of millions of birds have been wiped out, which means fewer eggs to sell.
And then, because why not? there were some mysterious fires at poultry farms. It’s like a bad reality show—“Poultry Farm Disasters: What’s Burning This Time?” Between bird flu and these fires, it’s like Mother Nature herself was trying to make eggs a luxury item. But for us moms, this meant taking our budget and making it cry.
And, of course, inflation—because, who’s not feeling the pinch? I already have four kids eating everything in sight like they’re in some kind of bottomless pit contest, but now I’m paying for gasoline, eggs, and the hopes and dreams of a balanced budget. It’s tough to keep the groceries stocked when prices are doing their best to throw a tantrum at the checkout.
Where Are Eggs Most Expensive?
You may be asking yourself, “Where can I escape the egg apocalypse?” Well, unless you're living in a chicken coop (and I’m not advising that), the prices are high across the board.
California: You could be paying upwards of $6 per dozen, and that’s before the avocado toast is even in sight.
Hawaii: If you thought you could escape to a tropical paradise, sorry. The egg prices are even worse there because of import costs.
Illinois & New York: Heavily taxed, high-cost states, so your eggs will set you back more than your Uber ride home.
So, What’s the Fix?
As a mother with four kids who'd happily eat eggs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (seriously, it’s their go-to), here are a few things that could make life easier:
End Excessive Regulations: Honestly, it’s hard enough feeding four kids without jumping through hoops, so let’s cut some of that red tape and let farmers do their thing. More eggs = happier kids.
Fix Supply Chains: I just want a dozen eggs. Is that too much to ask? Maybe if we strengthen our supply chains, we can stabilize prices and avoid future eggs-traordinary price hikes.
Crack Down on Price Gouging: Hey, big food companies—stop treating us like we're just going to sit here and accept the bill! Some reasonable oversight would be nice, like, oh I don’t know, maybe not charging the price of a small car for a dozen eggs?
Support American Farmers: Let's not make it harder for our hardworking farmers to keep things running smoothly. Supporting them ensures we don’t end up in an endless cycle of overpriced eggs and frustrated moms (who are still doing the math at checkout).
Conclusion: The Egg Dilemma
The price of eggs is just a snapshot of the broader economic struggles, and for a mom of four, every penny counts. When you’re juggling kids, a career, and meal planning, the last thing you need is your grocery bill skyrocketing over the price of eggs. If we want to make life a little easier (and make breakfast affordable again), it might be time for a change in leadership that doesn’t leave us cracking under pressure.
Until then, I’ll be over here hunting down local farms and trying to convince my kids that maybe we can survive on oatmeal for the next few months—because eggs are now the cost of an annual family trip to Disney.
