Egg prices jump before Christmas due to bird flu
(CNN) - If you’re going to be baking for Christmas, the price of eggs may catch you off guard.
A carton of a dozen Grade A eggs now costs $3.65 on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s up from $2.52 at the start of 2024.
Egg prices shot up by 8.2% nationwide in November in part due to holiday-based demand, according to Consumer Price Index data from Dec. 11. The prices are nearly 38% higher than a year ago, the Associated Press reports.
Experts tell The New York Times the avian bird flu is the major cause for price hikes. The outbreak has wiped out flocks of egg-laying hens, causing wholesale prices to rise.
Egg prices are expected to climb even higher in 2025 amid a continued shortage, as predicted by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Grocery stores have also seen prices jump for beef, coffee and non-alcoholic beverages recently.
Average prices are about 20% higher than they were three years ago, according to the Associated Press.
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