COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Egg costs are on the rise as Easter approaches, in line with a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service skilled, however they’re decrease than what shoppers could have paid on the grocery retailer earlier within the 12 months.
Shoppers — and the Easter bunny — could have seen the value of eggs rising not too long ago however that has largely to do with demand, stated Dr. David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension economist, Bryan-Faculty Station. Anderson stated he expects that pattern to proceed main as much as the Easter vacation.
“We’re truly producing extra eggs than we did a 12 months in the past, however eggs have a seasonal sample to them,” he stated, “And with Easter being sooner than ordinary this 12 months, we’re additionally seeing costs rise sooner than we sometimes would.”
Producers noticed wholesale costs for cartons of shell eggs strengthening by way of this previous week with the rising demand.
Holidays are likely to drive demand up as shoppers buy extra eggs than ordinary for consuming and baking. The Easter vacation demand additionally consists of the acquisition of eggs to dye and conceal.
· Egg costs rising however decrease than earlier month
In accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor, in February the Client Value Index for eggs elevated 5.8 p.c, which was 17 p.c beneath the extent of 2023, with a mean worth of $3 per dozen. This worth was 47 cents per dozen larger than in January.
Egg costs peaked in February at $3.29 per dozen in line with some weekly USDA Agricultura; Advertising Service retail grocery retailer knowledge, Anderson stated.
Final 12 months across the Easter vacation, the USDA reported retail eggs nationally had been $2.74 per dozen. Anderson stated shoppers can anticipate them to be round $2.99 per dozen this 12 months.
Anderson expects the price of a dozen eggs will decline round Texas after the vacation, which is typical, nevertheless shops could drop costs nearer to Easter if demand isn’t as robust as anticipated.
“However I don’t assume I’d wait till proper earlier than Easter to purchase your eggs, simply in case the demand is stronger than anticipated,” he stated. “You in all probability don’t wish to wait too lengthy to get eggs, particularly when you’re planning on utilizing actual ones in your Easter egg hunt.”
· Ongoing impact of avian influenza
Avian influenza, which has devastated industrial and yard flocks within the U.S. because the outbreak started in January 2022, has been on the decline thus far this 12 months. Just one flock within the state has been contaminated thus far, and that was a yard flock within the Texas Panhandle, stated Dr. Greg Archer, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension poultry specialist and affiliate professor within the Texas A&M Division of Poultry Science, Bryan-Faculty Station.
“Since December there have been round 14 million birds misplaced to avian flu, with the bulk being within the higher Midwest,” Archer stated, including that, whereas that quantity could also be alarming, the bulk – round 11 million — had been impacted in December and final month solely about 300,000 birds had been misplaced.
Because the begin of the outbreak in 2022, greater than 82 million birds have been affected. As producers have been in a position to change the egg-laying hens misplaced, shoppers have seen that mirrored in decrease egg costs.
“Knock on wooden we’ll proceed to see these fatality numbers drop,” he stated. “Because it hasn’t been as dangerous this 12 months, I wouldn’t anticipate egg costs to be as affected by that as a lot as in previous years.”
Susan Himes is a author and media relations specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife.
