Egg Prices Fell More Than Half Since 2025
As poultry flocks recovered, the average cost for a dozen eggs dropped to $2.27 in August 2026.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Inflation
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Egg prices declined by more than 50% between January 2025 and August 2026, falling from $4.95 to $2.27 per dozen. This shift followed a period of extreme volatility that saw prices hit a record $6.23 in March 2025.
Why it matters
The price drop primarily reflects the recovery of U.S. poultry flocks after nearly 51 million hens were lost to disease outbreaks. Enhanced biosecurity measures and federal intervention helped stabilize supply after severe shortages disrupted household grocery budgets.
Average egg prices fell to $2.27 by August 2026, marking a significant decline from the record high of $6.23 recorded in March 2025. This recovery occurred despite a 2.2% annual increase in broader grocery costs as of August.
The players
Cal-Maine Foods
A major egg producer involved in a settled price-fixing case.
Hickman's Egg Ranch
A large-scale egg producer named in a federal price-fixing settlement.
Versova
A prominent poultry company that was a defendant in a price-fixing lawsuit.
United States Department of Agriculture
The federal agency that oversees agricultural biosecurity and supports farmers.
The details
Prices moderated as farmers rebuilt flocks and the government deployed $1 billion in biosecurity and compensation funding. The surge in domestic production was supplemented by a sharp increase in imports, which jumped to 121 million dozen-equivalent eggs in 2025 from 29.8 million in 2024. Despite these improvements, farmers continue to face upward pressure on operating costs due to tariffs and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Timeline
January 2025: Average egg prices began at $4.95.
March 2025: Prices reached a record peak of $6.23 per dozen.
June 2025: USDA officials finalized over 900 farm biosecurity assessments.
August 2026: The average price for a dozen eggs settled at $2.27.
Money Landscape
The stabilization of egg prices marks a departure from the extreme volatility seen during the height of the avian flu outbreaks. This recovery sits within the context of federal efforts to shore up the domestic food supply through a $1 billion biosecurity and compensation program.
The decline in egg prices offers relief for a staple category in the household grocery budget after a prolonged period of high costs. If you are managing a strict food budget, consider reviewing your recent monthly spending to see how current prices compare to your 2025 averages.
The takeaway
The drastic reduction in egg prices highlights the impact of improved biosecurity and flock recovery on essential grocery costs. Households should continue to monitor grocery receipts for broader food price trends, as operational costs for producers remain subject to global economic pressures.
Further reading
For more on how food costs affect your household budget, see our guide to Inflation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NPR.
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