What's in your basket: Easter eggs or chocolates? Will high egg prices force families to crack easter traditions?

The Easter egg hunt in 2025 could be a bit of an unusual one for most families. With egg prices at record levels because of the bird flu epidemic, chocolate eggs and jelly beans may become the preferred choice for many instead of the traditional brightly colored hard-boiled eggs.

Egg Prices Crack Under Pressure

A dozen eggs in January cost about $4.90, which was nearly double what they'd cost a year before, according to The Street. By March, that had increased another 27% to an average of $6.20, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While, a dozen eggs in some places, such as New York, were selling for over $10 due to price-gouging, according to The Street.

The egg prices increased due to the bird flu outbreak that began spreading on farms from March 2024, and has affected more than 167 million birds across 17 states, according to The Street.

Retail Limits and Restaurant Surcharges

To cope with egg supply shortage, some stores like Costco, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's have restricted how many eggs a customer can buy, reported The Street. Even restaurants like Waffle House and Denny's have put surcharges on egg-containing food, as per the report.


ALSO READ: Nationwide poll finds Americans oppose tariffs, want Congress to step up and stop more economic fallout from Trump’s trade policies

Spring Offers Hope

Although the outbreak started in 2022, it got more severe last year, according to The Street. However, the spring weather is beginning to bring some relief, as per the report. In January, there were 85 outbreaks in chicken farms, as reported by the World Health Organisation, but by March that figure had fallen to 12. Higher temperatures seem to be making it more difficult for the virus to propagate, as per The Street.

However, farmers are now left with the challenging task of rebuilding their herds. Wholesale prices only started to decline in mid-March, so many retailers are still selling eggs they bought at peak price, said University of Arkansas agricultural economist Jada Thompson, reported The Street. Thompson also said that until there is a vaccine, the bird flu virus is just going to wax and wane seasonally, affecting the marketplace off and on, as reported by The Street.

While the return of warm weather holds out some hope, this Easter, children might stuff baskets with candy instead of real eggs, as per the report.

FAQs

Why are eggs so expensive this Easter?
A major bird flu outbreak had devastated poultry farms, drastically cutting supply and pushing prices up, as per The Street.

Is there a vaccine for bird flu in poultry?
Not yet. Until one is developed and deployed, outbreaks may continue in seasonal waves, as per an agricultural economist.