Where Egg Prices Are Now
As of January 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the average price for a dozen Grade A large eggs at $2.58 (U.S. City Average). That's 84% above the 2019 baseline of $1.40 — but well below the 2025 highs. In 2025 the annual average was $4.71 per dozen, and prices peaked at $6.23 in March 2025 before falling sharply. So in early 2026, eggs are no longer in crisis territory, but they are still meaningfully more expensive than before the pandemic.
For the full timeline and latest numbers, see our Egg Index tracker with historical data from 2015 through 2026.
Why Egg Prices Spiked
The main driver was avian influenza (HPAI). Repeated outbreaks since 2022 devastated commercial laying flocks across the U.S., cutting supply and sending prices up. In 2022 alone, egg prices jumped 71% year-over-year. Feed costs also rose, and several states have implemented or expanded cage-free mandates, which add structural production costs that don't reverse. The combination of supply shock and higher baseline costs pushed the BLS average from $1.67/dozen in 2021 to $2.86 in 2022, $2.80 in 2023, $3.17 in 2024, and a painful $4.71 average in 2025 with a March 2025 peak of $6.23.
Why They've Come Down
Supply has recovered as flocks were rebuilt and HPAI pressure eased. Lower feed costs have also helped. The result is a sharp drop from the 2025 peak: the January 2026 BLS figure of $2.58 per dozen implies a year-over-year decline of about 45% from the 2025 average. So the "egg crisis" phase is over — prices have normalized from their spike rather than staying at $5–6 per dozen.
Why They're Still Above 2019
Structural costs have shifted. Cage-free and other production standards add expense. Feed and labor costs remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic norms. Eggs still represent a tiny share of the CPI basket (well under 0.2%), but they're a highly visible symbol of grocery volatility. Early 2026 levels offer real relief compared to 2025, but eggs are unlikely to return to the $1.40–$1.50 range of 2019 without a broader deflation in feed and labor.
The Bottom Line
The Egg Index tells one of the most dramatic inflation stories of the decade: from $1.40/dozen in 2019 to a peak of $6.23 in March 2025, then back down to $2.58 in January 2026. Avian flu and supply shocks drove the spike; supply recovery and lower feed costs drove the correction. What remains is a new normal — still 84% above 2019 — shaped by ongoing structural costs. For the complete series and source data, see the Egg Index (BLS/FRED series APU0000708111).
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) — series APU0000708111, average price per dozen Grade A large eggs, U.S. City Average. USDA ERS and animal health reports for avian influenza (HPAI) flock impacts and supply disruption. State cage-free mandate timelines from state agriculture departments.