In the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Price Outlook, egg prices are expected to continue surging in 2025, ending the year 41.1% higher than at the end of 2024.
For the 12-month period ending last month, egg prices increased by 53%.
WATCH BELOW: Egg prices will continue to surge this year, USDA predicts
Cartons of eggs have seen a rapid increase due to a shortage caused by an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Approximately 18.8 million commercial egg layers were affected by HPAI in January 2025, the USDA reported.
"No surprise whatsoever, keep in mind there have already been 166 million birds that had to be culled," supermarket guru Phil Lempert told WPTV on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump's administration now says they are committing $1 billion to combat the chicken shortage, which includes biosecurity at farms and working on a vaccine.
WPTV checked stores around Palm Beach County on Wednesday and found prices for a dozen large eggs at these stores:
- $4.69 at Whole Foods
- $5.49 at Target
- $5.97 at Aldi
- $5.99 at Publix
"It really depends on the relationship that the retailer has with an egg producer. That's what it comes down to," Lempert said. "If you look at Publix, you look at Aldi — that have very good relationships with their suppliers and they're not just buying on the spot market — they're going to do better."
WATCH BELOW: Supermarket guru Phil Lempert explains why eggs prices continue to climb
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Brooke Rollins, the Trump administration's new Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said she predicts egg prices will fall around summer.
"We are seeing probably even a little bit more increase up until Easter, which is actually normal because so many eggs are used around Easter. We also have only been in 30 days. I've been in 13 days. It’s going to take a little while to get through, I think the next month or two, but hopefully by summer," she said.
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Food prices as a whole are expected to increase by about 3.4% in 2025. In the last year, food prices have increased by 2.5%.
Despite the bird flu causing havoc for egg farms, poultry prices are expected to remain stable in 2025.
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