USDA Declares Egg Supply Stabilized as Shortage Concerns Diminish

The U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that the egg supply situation in grocery stores has significantly improved, just in time for Easter.

According to their latest report from March 28, shoppers are now enjoying well-stocked shelves and a variety of options without any purchase limits. The average wholesale price for a dozen eggs dropped by 8% between March 21 and March 28, marking a staggering 63% decrease from the peak prices seen in late February. However, it’s important to note that consumers may only just be starting to see these lower prices at retail due to the lag time—wholesale price changes can take up to three weeks before they show up on store shelves.

On another positive note, the spread of avian influenza has slowed down significantly; no new infections have been reported among egg-laying flocks as March 18. Before this date, only two other infected flocks were identified earlier in March by health authorities.The USDA highlighted that this break has allowed egg producers some breathing room to replenish their stocks and rebuild flocks that had been culled previously.

Wiht easter approaching on April 20, there’s an anticipated spike in demand for eggs over the coming weeks. The American Egg Board cautions that this could led to a temporary rise in prices again. Farmers are also keeping an eye on wild bird migration patterns since past outbreaks have been linked back to migratory species like geese during springtime.