U.S. Egg Prices Drop as Poultry Flocks Recover

Average egg prices in the United States declined from $4.95 per dozen in January 2025 to $2.27 in August 2026. Donald Trump claimed his return to office ended runaway prices, though agriculture experts attribute the drop primarily to the recovery of poultry flocks after severe avian influenza outbreaks. Between October 2024 and March 2025, nearly 51 million hens died or were euthanized, pushing prices to a record high of $6.23 in March 2025.

To address the crisis, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced up to $1 billion in funding for biosecurity and farmer compensation. The United States Department of Agriculture also increased egg imports, which reached 121 million dozen-equivalent in 2025. Simultaneously, the United States Department of Justice settled a price-fixing case against major producers Cal-Maine Foods, Hickman's Egg Ranch, and Versova.

While consumer prices for eggs have fallen, experts note that operational costs for farmers have risen due to tariffs and the war with Iran. These factors increased the cost of diesel, fertilizer, and packaging, contributing to a 2.2% overall increase in grocery prices.