NEW YORK — Egg costs once more reached a document excessive in February, because the hen flu continues to run rampant and Easter and Passover strategy.
The most recent month-to-month Shopper Value Index confirmed a dozen Grade A eggs price a median of $5.90 in U.S. cities in February, up 10.4% from a 12 months in the past. That eclipsed January’s record-high value of $4.95.
Avian flu has compelled farmers to slaughter greater than 166 million birds, principally egg-laying chickens. Simply for the reason that begin of the 12 months, greater than 30 million egg layers have been killed.
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If costs stay excessive, will probably be third 12 months in a row customers have confronted sticker shock forward of Easter on April 20 and Passover, which begins on the night of April 12, each events through which eggs play outstanding roles.
The value had constantly been under $2 a dozen for many years earlier than the illness struck. The U.S. Division of Agriculture expects egg costs to rise 41% this 12 months over final 12 months’s common of $3.17 per dozen.
However there could also be mild on the finish of the tunnel. The USDA reported final week that egg shortages are easing and wholesale costs are dropping, which could present aid on the retail aspect earlier than this 12 months’s late Easter, which is three weeks later than final 12 months. It mentioned there had been no main hen flu outbreak for 2 weeks.
“Customers have begun to see shell egg choices within the dairycase turning into extra dependable though retail value ranges have but to regulate and stay off-putting to many,” the USDA wrote within the March 7 report.
David Anderson, a professor and extension economist for livestock and meals advertising and marketing at Texas A&M College, mentioned wholesale figures dropping is an efficient signal that costs may go down as customers react to the excessive costs by shopping for fewer eggs.
“What that ought to inform us is issues are easing somewhat bit by way of costs,” he mentioned. “So going ahead, the subsequent CPI report might very effectively point out falling egg costs.”
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Nevertheless, he would not anticipate lasting adjustments till hen inventory might be replenished and manufacturing might be changed.
“Report excessive costs is a market sign to producers to provide extra, but it surely takes time to have the ability to produce extra, and we simply haven’t had sufficient time for that to occur but,” he mentioned. “However I do suppose it’s going to occur. However it’s going to take some extra months to get there.”
Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, mentioned wholesale costs dropping is nice information, however famous that elevated demand for Easter may drive a brief improve in costs.
“As well as, egg farmers are carefully watching spring migration of untamed birds, recognizing that wild birds are a number one reason for the unfold of this virus and pose an awesome and ongoing menace to egg-laying flocks,” she mentioned.
Advocacy teams and others have additionally known as for a probe into whether or not egg producers have used the avian flu to cost gouge. However egg producers say the avian flu is solely behind the elevated costs.
In the meantime, eating places have added surcharges and made different adjustments to offset the price of eggs.
The Trump administration has unveiled a plan to fight hen flu, together with a $500 million funding to assist farmers bolster biosecurity measures, $400 million in further support for farmers whose flocks have been impacted by avian flu, and $100 million to analysis and probably develop vaccines and therapeutics for U.S. rooster flocks, amongst different measures. However it can seemingly take some time for that plan to make an affect.
