Where Egg Prices Are Now

Updated July 21, 2026: The latest published BLS average-price reading is $2.191 per dozen in May 2026. That is about 57% above the 2019 annual average of $1.40, but far below the $6.23 monthly peak in March 2025. BLS reported that the separate CPI index for eggs rose 4.3% in June; a June average-dollar price was not yet published when this article was updated.

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 recovered as flocks were rebuilt and HPAI pressure eased. Lower feed costs also helped. The May 2026 average price was less than half the March 2025 peak, so the crisis-era spike clearly reversed even though prices remained above 2019.

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 a $1.40 annual average in 2019 to a $6.23 monthly peak in March 2025, then down to $2.19 in May 2026. Avian flu and supply shocks drove the spike; supply recovery helped drive the correction. 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.