US egg prices finally decline after months of continuous increases
Egg prices in the US see long-awaited decline (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
National egg prices in the US dropped by 9% last week, averaging $3 per dozen, according to USA Today.
The decline in prices is attributed to the improved epidemiological situation regarding avian influenza.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), only 2.1 million cases were reported in March, compared to 12.64 million in February and 23.19 million in January.
The decrease in cases has led to a recovery in supply, with store shelves once again filled, offering consumers a wider selection without restrictions. "Shoppers are just beginning to notice the price drops on the shelves," the USDA’s weekly report notes.
Amid the sharp rise in prices, egg smuggling from Canada and Mexico has surged, with over 3,000 cases of illegal import recorded in January and February alone.
To address the domestic shortage, the US significantly increased egg imports from Brazil.
However, the egg deficit also forced the country to seek alternative supplies from Europe, but differences in sanitary regulations complicated the import process.
Prices are falling unevenly across the country. In New York, the price of large eggs fell by 2% to $3.86 per dozen. Meanwhile, in the Midwest, wholesale prices for large white eggs dropped by 32% to $3.69 per dozen. In California, the price of a dozen large eggs decreased by 18.6%, reaching $5.34.
Experts caution that it may take up to three weeks for retail prices to reflect the changes, as fluctuations in the wholesale market are typically slow to impact store shelves.
