To buy or not to buy—eggs see big price hike

    A trip for groceries these days has most people clutching their billfolds.
    Prices are more expensive on nearly everything, but the cost for one item—eggs—has really skyrocketed.
    Suppliers to and owners of Imperial grocery stores point to a variety of reasons, but two situations are big factors.
    An avian flu outbreak and inflation appear to be the biggest reasons affecting egg prices which at Imperial grocery stories have eclipsed the $7 price tag.
    Just before Christmas prices were $7.69 and $7.49 at Imperial’s two grocery stores, Hill’s Family Foods and Imperial Super Foods.
    Dollar General also sells eggs, but shelves were empty on Saturday. The price below their empty shelf read $3.95/dozen.
    Since early 2022, more than 49 million birds in 46 states either died as a result of the bird flu virus or have been killed due to exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
    This is nearing the 50.5 million birds in 21 states affected by the 2015 bird flu, but the 2022 outbreak is hitting poultry in more states.
    The virus is very contagious among birds, including chickens, according to the CDC.
    Dennis Meisenbach with the Associated Wholesale Grocers Association in Norfolk told Super Foods owner Jill Moline the avian flu and holiday demand with limited inventory are causing prices to increase for now.
    “No one will commit to when egg pricing will come down. I am guessing after the holidays but no facts behind it,” he said.
    Moline said she’s had a lot of comments from customers on egg prices.
    She’s been surprised at the lack of news coverage nationally on the avian flu outbreak.
    “That’s why I think it’s important to let people know the reasons. Eggs and everything containing eggs are higher priced now,” she said.
    Super Foods hasn’t had issues getting eggs, but several weeks ago there was a period when only medium-sized eggs were delivered. Large eggs weren’t being shipped for awhile, she said.
    She also learned when egg-laying chicken growers add new hens, the eggs produced early on will be fewer and not as large.
    There has been a slight decrease in egg sales at her grocery store the past month, but Moline said local people selling eggs may be filling some of that void.

    Dirk Hill, owner of Hill’s Family Foods, said he’s also had no issues with supply and agreed customers are “probably buying slightly less,” but added it’s a staple for most people.
    “You can’t bake a cake without them,” he said.
    His customers, too, have commented on the price.    
    “Some of our customers have mentioned that prices are up but so are a lot of other products and services,” he said.
    Staff at Dollar General noted there was about a two-week period in December when they did not get eggs in on their normal Friday delivery.
    But with the current price at $3.95 there, eggs sell fast, they said. There was a short time when the price was $4.25 at Dollar General but they are priced this week under $4—however, the shelves were empty.
    Others in the poultry industry have said it’s the perfect storm right now that’s affecting egg prices in particular.
    In addition to the avian flu and inflation, supply chain issues and higher feed costs have upped the cost.
    The Urner Barry Market Report provides comprehensive market coverage in the poultry, egg, meat, seafood, plant protein and related segments of the food industry.
    It said, “Though demand is typically higher for eggs at this time of year due to holiday baking needs, consumption levels are being further bolstered by a stronger dependence on eggs as an affordable protein source.”
    Basically, people for the most part are still buying despite the price.
    The Report added egg stocks are 20.4% lower than in the year-ago period and 12.6% lower than the five-year average.
    Egg prices spiked 10% in October alone, the largest monthly increase of any grocery item, according to the Consumer Price Index issued last Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.