What the average US egg price measures
The Bureau of Labor Statistics records the price of a dozen Grade A large white eggs in supermarkets and other stores in cities across the country as part of the Consumer Price Index, and publishes the national average each month. The chart shows that average since 1980 in current dollars. Organic, cage-free and other specialty eggs often cost more and are not reflected in this price.
How to read this chart
For most of the history eggs cost between $0.80 and $2 a dozen. The sharp peaks since 2015 are almost all caused by avian influenza: when bird flu reaches a large laying farm, the whole flock is culled and supply drops fast, while demand barely changes. Prices then fall back once flocks are rebuilt, which takes several months.
The latest reading in context
- At $2.27, the latest reading is below its 5-year average of $3.01 and above its 10-year average of $2.27.
- That is higher than 91% of all monthly readings since January 1980 – near the top of its historical range.
- Direction: unchanged over the past month; down 3.2% over the past six months; down 34.9% over the past year.
- The highest value on record is $6.23 (March 2025, last year); the lowest is $0.68 (May 1988, 38 years ago).
- The full history spans 6 US recessions, shaded grey on the chart.
Why it matters
Eggs are one of the most visible grocery prices and became a symbol of food inflation in 2023 and 2025. They make up a tiny share of the CPI, but their swings are large enough to move the food-at-home index. The supply shock also shows how animal disease can turn into a nationwide price problem within weeks.
What moves the average US egg price
- Bird flu outbreaks and the size of the laying flock
- Feed costs: corn and soybean meal
- Seasonal demand around Easter and the holiday baking season
- State cage-free laws, which raise production costs
- Imports used to fill shortages
Key moments in its history
- 2015Bird flu wiped out about 10% of laying hens; prices jumped above $2.
- Jan 2023Reached a then-record near $4.80 after the 2022 outbreak.
- Mar 2025Set a record above $6 a dozen in a renewed outbreak.
- Mid-2025Fell back quickly as flocks recovered.
US Egg Prices data tables
Average by decade
| Decade | Average | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s (so far) | $2.64 | $6.23 | $1.33 |
| 2010s | $1.80 | $2.97 | $1.20 |
| 2000s | $1.33 | $2.20 | $0.84 |
| 1990s | $0.97 | $1.31 | $0.80 |
| 1980s | $0.88 | $1.32 | $0.68 |
Last 12 months
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | $2.27 | +0.0% |
| Aug 2026 | $2.27 | +3.8% |
| Jul 2026 | $2.19 | +2.2% |
| Jun 2026 | $2.14 | −2.3% |
| May 2026 | $2.19 | −2.6% |
| Apr 2026 | $2.25 | −4.2% |
| Mar 2026 | $2.35 | −6.1% |
| Feb 2026 | $2.50 | −3.0% |
| Jan 2026 | $2.58 | −5.0% |
| Dec 2025 | $2.71 | −5.2% |
| Nov 2025 | $2.86 | |
| Oct 2025 | n/a | not published |
Monthly values. Decade figures are averages of the monthly values in each decade. The complete history is available as a CSV file.
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US Egg Prices: questions and answers
Why did egg prices go up so much?
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza forced farmers to cull tens of millions of laying hens in 2022–2025. With fewer hens, supply fell while demand stayed steady.
How much does a dozen eggs cost now?
The latest US average for Grade A large eggs is shown at the top of this page.
Are these organic or cage-free egg prices?
No. This is the BLS average for conventional Grade A large eggs. Specialty eggs typically cost more and change less.
Where does the data on this chart come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. ChartWidgets downloads the series (APU0000708111) from FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis database, and checks for new releases every day. The last update was on November 1, 2026.