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Editor's note
Prices updated as of March 1, 2025. We will update this page biweekly with real-time egg prices from supermarkets across the U.S.As American consumers lament rising food costs in most grocery aisles, egg prices have become the focus of the national conversation surrounding rising grocery prices. From January 2024 to January 2025, the cost of a dozen eggs has shot up 96.4% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, largely due to an ongoing bird flu outbreak affecting U.S. supply. In late February, the FDA predicted egg prices may continue to rise more than 40% in 2025.
This shortened supply not only impacts the price of eggs at grocery stores nationwide but also makes them harder to find, leading some grocery chains to limit the number of eggs customers are allowed to purchase.
Similarly, some breakfast chains, including Waffle House, have added surcharges to egg dishes, making American consumers feel the impact of rising egg prices no matter where they turn.
To help consumers address rising egg costs in the U.S., our team at FinanceBuzz is collecting real-time egg prices from around the country to understand what consumers are actually paying at the grocery store.
Why are eggs so expensive right now?
Egg prices have steadily risen since mid-2024 due to an outbreak of a bird flu (avian influenza) strain affecting commercial chicken flocks across the country.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 45 million chickens were affected with this particular strain in January and February alone, causing supply shortages for egg-laying hens at major egg producers. In total, more than 166 million chickens have been slaughtered to prevent the virus’ spread.
In addition to rising consumer prices, the USDA reports increasing prices for wholesale eggs across the country. These figures, however, report on all types of eggs, including more-expensive cage-free or free-range eggs that are required in some states.
When will egg prices drop again?
It remains unclear when egg prices will return to normal, but it’s expected that prices will remain high for a number of months. Earlier this year, the USDA predicted that egg prices would begin to fall in the 2nd quarter of 2025, and resume a downward trend into the third quarter. In late February 2025, the USDA predicts that prices could jump another 41% in 2025.
With these price fluctuations, supply remains an issue for many grocery chains, so consumers should expect to see limits to the number of eggs they’re able to purchase at a time from some retailers. For instance, some Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Target stores have instituted limits on the number of cartons of eggs shoppers are able to buy.
Are egg prices the same everywhere?
The price of eggs can vary largely depending on where you shop and where in the country you live. While some national retailers (like Target) keep egg prices consistent, others in our data vary from store to store.
The cost of a dozen eggs also depends on the types of eggs you’re buying. Cage-free, organic, or free-range eggs, for instance, are universally more expensive and range from $1-$3 more expensive per dozen. Some states, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington, Nevada, and Oregon require eggs in the state to be sourced from free-range facilities, adding some additional cost to shoppers in those states.
About our price index
To compile the data shown above, our team collects real-time price data for one dozen grade-A white eggs from supermarket chains across the country. This real-time data is intended to supplement official reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI), which reports monthly on the prices of various consumer goods, including eggs. Because BLS data can be delayed by up to 6 weeks, our data reflects more real-time data, directly from U.S. supermarkets.
Our data is compiled from in-store and curbside pickup pricing information at national U.S. supermarket chains, including Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Aldi, as well as regional chains like Publix, Meijer, H-E-B, and Giant Eagle. For each store, we selected prices from at least ten locations across a variety of states. All prices were collected for a carton of one dozen grade A white eggs, and did not consider other eggs (like cage-free) or quantity (packs of 18) variations for this index. Though our estimates do not contain pricing information for every supermarket in the country, our averages reflect more real-time customer experiences.
Tips for saving on groceries
While the price of eggs isn’t expected to go down anytime soon, that doesn’t mean you can’t save at the grocery store (even on eggs).
- Earn credit card rewards on your grocery. It’s not likely you’re going to stop spending entirely at the grocery store, but you may as well maximize your return on your weekly grocery haul. Use one of the best credit cards to buy groceries and earn rewards on your grocery purchases to get the most out of everyday shopping.
- Use helpful grocery hacks at the store. Groceries are a significant expense for every family, but finding ways to save can make a huge impact on your overall budget. Getting some insider tips on how to spend less on groceries can help reduce the overall cost of your essentials.
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