COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Egg costs are on the rise as Easter approaches, in accordance with a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service knowledgeable, however they’re decrease than what shoppers could have paid on the grocery retailer earlier within the yr.
Shoppers — and the Easter bunny — could have observed the worth of eggs rising lately however that has principally to do with demand, mentioned Dr. David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension economist, Bryan-School Station. Anderson mentioned he expects that development to proceed main as much as the Easter vacation.
“We’re really producing extra eggs than we did a yr in the past, however eggs have a seasonal sample to them,” he mentioned, “And with Easter being sooner than regular this yr, we’re additionally seeing costs rise sooner than we usually would.”
Producers noticed wholesale costs for cartons of shell eggs strengthening by this previous week with the rising demand.
Holidays are inclined to drive demand up as shoppers buy extra eggs than regular for consuming and baking. The Easter vacation demand additionally contains the acquisition of eggs to dye and conceal.
· Egg costs rising however decrease than earlier month
In accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor, in February the Shopper Value Index for eggs elevated 5.8 %, which was 17 % under the extent of 2023, with a median worth of $3 per dozen. This worth was 47 cents per dozen greater than in January.
Egg costs peaked in February at $3.29 per dozen in accordance with some weekly USDA Agricultura; Advertising and marketing Service retail grocery retailer information, Anderson mentioned.
Final yr across the Easter vacation, the USDA reported retail eggs nationally had been $2.74 per dozen. Anderson mentioned shoppers can anticipate them to be round $2.99 per dozen this yr.
Anderson expects the price of a dozen eggs will decline round Texas after the vacation, which is typical, nevertheless shops could drop costs nearer to Easter if demand isn’t as robust as anticipated.
“However I don’t assume I’d wait till proper earlier than Easter to purchase your eggs, simply in case the demand is stronger than anticipated,” he mentioned. “You most likely don’t need to wait too lengthy to get eggs, particularly for those who’re planning on utilizing actual ones in your Easter egg hunt.”
· Ongoing impact of avian influenza
Avian influenza, which has devastated business and yard flocks within the U.S. because the outbreak started in January 2022, has been on the decline thus far this yr. Just one flock within the state has been contaminated so far, and that was a yard flock within the Texas Panhandle, mentioned Dr. Greg Archer, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension poultry specialist and affiliate professor within the Texas A&M Division of Poultry Science, Bryan-School Station.
“Since December there have been round 14 million birds misplaced to avian flu, with the bulk being within the higher Midwest,” Archer mentioned, including that, whereas that quantity could also be alarming, the bulk – round 11 million — had been impacted in December and final month solely about 300,000 birds had been misplaced.
Because the begin of the outbreak in 2022, greater than 82 million birds have been affected. As producers have been in a position to change the egg-laying hens misplaced, shoppers have seen that mirrored in decrease egg costs.
“Knock on wooden we’ll proceed to see these fatality numbers drop,” he mentioned. “Because it hasn’t been as dangerous this yr, I wouldn’t anticipate egg costs to be as affected by that as a lot as in previous years.”
Susan Himes is a author and media relations specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife.
