Egg prices have plummeted since Trump took office — after hitting all-time high

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the price of eggs has dropped by over 61%, following a spike to an all-time high in March. According to the most recent data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), white, large shell eggs are now priced at $2.52 per dozen nationally.

Back in January, the same carton of eggs would have cost an American around $6.49, as reported by data website Trading Economics. The price of eggs soared to over $8 a dozen in the first week of March before gradually decreasing.

Despite a slight improvement in shell egg demand leading up to Memorial Day weekend, it remained below average, continuing a trend that began during the sharp price increases in late winter. The USDA Egg Markets Overview weekly publication highlighted this trend.

A study conducted by Clarify Capital in April revealed that over 30% of Americans had stopped buying eggs due to their high cost. However, weaker demand and a decrease in new cases of bird flu helped to stabilize prices.

Reuters reported that in the same month, the US had increased imports of eggs from countries such as Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea to boost supplies amidst a bird flu outbreak that has resulted in the deaths of millions of birds since 2022.

Since the outbreak began, bird flu has affected over 166 million birds, including 127 million egg layers. This has led to an average loss of 42.3 million egg layers per year, equating to approximately 11% of the five-year average annual layer inventory of 383 million hens, according to economist Bernt Nelson.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed 43 outbreaks in layer flocks across 10 states, indicating that the effects of the outbreak are ongoing.