American families preparing for Easter and Passover celebrations will find much more affordable eggs this year, with nationwide prices dropping a dramatic 60% compared to last year’s unprecedented peaks.
The devastating bird flu epidemic was responsible for skyrocketing retail costs during the initial five months of 2025, and the trajectory of this highly infectious disease explains why costs have significantly decreased now. The outbreak required agricultural operations and large-scale producers to eliminate complete flocks of laying hens, but declining infection rates during the latter half of last year aided in rebuilding egg inventories, explained Mark Jordan, executive director of agricultural research company LEAP Market Analytics.
The persistent epidemic continues to impact American poultry operations, with infected commercial farm numbers increasing during March. However, producers have been quickly rebuilding flocks that perished or required elimination. From July 2024 through July 2025, the quantity of egg-producing chicks hatched across America increased by 8%. This marked the first continuous and significant growth in availability of specialized laying chicks since the bird flu crisis started in 2022, Jordan noted.
The Trump administration’s choice to bring in almost 1 billion eggs last year also contributed to reducing costs, Jordan explained, though imports have now returned to typical volumes. America also reduced egg exports last year to increase domestic availability.
However, what benefits shoppers doesn’t necessarily help producers, who struggle to recover expenses as egg costs drop dramatically. They may also face higher feed expenses, including corn and soybean meal, due to the Iran conflict.
“Farmers are no strangers to volatility. It’s part of the business. But in recent months, many have been selling eggs at or below the cost of production,” said Emily Metz, the president and CEO of the America Egg Board, a trade group.
Key statistics about American egg pricing, based on government data:
— $2.50 per dozen: February’s average nationwide cost for a dozen eggs.
— $6.23 per dozen: March 2025’s average nationwide cost for a dozen eggs, representing a record peak.
— 315.8 million: Total egg-laying hens across America as of March 1, representing an 8% increase from the previous year.
— 45 million: Iowa’s egg-laying hen population, leading all states in egg production.
— 205.7 million: Total chickens and other birds in commercial and residential flocks that perished or were eliminated due to bird flu since February 2022.
— 5.22 million: Total chickens and other birds that died or were eliminated from bird flu in March 2026, more than twice the March 2025 numbers.
— 657%: The percentage growth in American shell egg imports during 2025 versus the prior year.
— $1.05: Producers’ average cost to create a dozen eggs, excluding labor and shipping expenses, per the American Egg Board. In late March, the national average wholesale egg price reached $1.17 per dozen.
— 40,000: Total real eggs planned for this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll.
