Double blow for Americans: Rising beef prices in the US pile on the pain amid egg supply crisis

As egg prices in the US continue to soar due to a supply shortage caused by the ongoing bird flu outbreak, beef prices have also been on the rise.

According to the US Department of Labour’s Consumer Price Index, beef and veal prices increased by 5.5 per cent in January.

Courtney Schmidt, Sector Manager at the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, attributed the rise in beef prices to tighter domestic production alongside steady consumer demand.


Speaking to Fox Business, Schmidt said that US cattle inventories are at historically low levels in 2025.

Bernt Nelson, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Foundation, noted that as of January 1, the US cattle and calf inventory had fallen by around 1 per cent year-on-year.

He also pointed out that recent record-high prices for slaughter-ready cattle could discourage farmers from expanding their herds, as the situation remains favourable for sellers.

Also Read : Ruby Franke docuseries: Husband Kevin Franke speaks out on YouTube family vlogger’s relationship with Jodi Hildebrandt

Opportunity for cattle producers?

Nelson told Fox Business that rising calf prices create a lucrative opportunity for cow-calf producers. If these calves are kept or sold for breeding, fewer cattle will enter the beef market, further tightening supply until a potential expansion with the 2026 calf generation.

Beef and eggs deliver a double blow

The rise in beef prices comes as a double setback for meat and poultry consumers, as egg prices have been consistently climbing due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak.

Earlier this week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report predicting a 41.1 per cent increase in egg prices this year.

In January, the USDA had forecast a 20 per cent jump in egg prices for 2025, according to ABC News. Retail egg prices rose by 13.8 per cent in January, with the USDA stating that egg prices this year are 53 per cent higher than during the same period in 2024.

Also Read : Blackpink live in London: Wembley Stadium concert set for August 15 — How to get tickets, pricing and more

FAQs

1. Why are beef prices rising in the US?
Beef prices in the United States are increasing due to historically low levels of US cattle inventories, according to industry experts.


2. How is the bird flu outbreak affecting egg prices?
The ongoing bird flu outbreak has severely disrupted the US egg supply. According to the USDA, egg prices this January were 53 per cent higher than at the same time last year.