US: Broiler Market Outlook Week 6, February 10, 2025

Egg prices continue to rise in the U.S. The rise in egg prices — up more than 36% due to bird flu — is forcing bakeries and restaurants to rethink their operations. Some have seen the cost of eggs nearly double, making it difficult to maintain affordable prices. Across the country, chains like Waffle House are raising prices to combat the egg shortage. According to Reuters , Waffle House is implementing a 50-cent surcharge for each egg in a customer’s order. The Georgia-based company, which has about 2,100 locations nationwide, is believed to be the first major restaurant chain to implement an egg surcharge. “Rather than raising prices across our entire menu, this is a temporary, targeted surcharge to address the unprecedented rise in egg prices,” the company said. “The ongoing egg shortage caused by HPAI (bird flu) has caused egg prices to rise sharply,” Waffle House said in a statement. “Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions.” Other operators are also finding it difficult to afford to make omelettes in bulk, with some switching to liquid eggs, which are cheaper.

Over the past two years, about 104 million layers have been culled in the U.S., with 29 million culled since October alone. Over the past 30 days, USDA data shows 80 commercial flocks and 43 backyard flocks have been affected, totaling 22.75 million birds. Of those, Ohio has 39 commercial flocks with 8.79 million birds affected, Indiana has five commercial flocks and two backyard flocks with 3.07 million birds affected, North Carolina has three commercial flocks with 3.34 million birds, and Missouri has 13 commercial flocks and two backyard flocks with 4.29 million birds affected. Many of the largest numbers in each state were commercial egg-laying birds.

The national average price for a dozen eggs in December was $4.15, but now a dozen eggs in the Midwest cost $7.08 wholesale, seven times the price two years ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In New York City, a dozen cage-free eggs cost $11.99 at Whole Foods. Some grocery stores in New York and Chicago have set limits on the number of boxes customers can buy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting another 20% price jump this year.

Egg producers call for urgent response to bird flu . Members of the United Egg Producers (UEP) are meeting with lawmakers this week, calling for swift action to combat the ongoing bird flu outbreak that has already led to the loss of 20 million birds in 2025. The UEP is asking lawmakers to support a letter to USDA nominee Brooke Rollins demanding immediate steps such as developing an animal vaccination strategy , ensuring biosecurity measures, and revising disaster compensation rates.

 Dynamics of prices and sales volumes of broilers

Average weighted price of broilers by region

Region

Average weighted price, cents/lb

Sales volume (thousand pounds)

Week 5

Week 6

Growth per week,%

Week 5

Week 6

Growth per week,%

Oriental

129.64

127.31

-1.8%

4 838

4 827

-0.2%

Central

116.34

118.95

2.2%

2 271

2 571

13.2%

West

143.66

141.33

-1.6%

3 040

3 075

1.2%

Dynamics of prices for chicken cuttings

Weekly reviews are available with a subscription.