The price of eggs in bulk decreased sharply since the beginning of March after its rise for several months, but it may take a few weeks until the grocery shoppers see the decrease.
Wholesale egg prices, which is paid by retailers to buy eggs, She fell To a national average slightly more than 4 dollars for dozens of large white eggs, a decrease from the peak of more than $ 8 at the end of February, according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture issued last week.
Jeremy Horbidal, a professor of economics at Arkansas University, said that because eggs are usually four weeks old, it may be the end of March before retail prices began to decline. He added that some stores may not lower prices until their current stock is sold.
Economists have said that the decrease in wholesale prices, which are still higher than long -term averages, are very likely to be fueled by a group of factors: bird flu is under control, the weakest demand for consumer, the widespread supply decisions and the pricing of the producers. The Ministry of Agriculture indicated that there was no significant outbreak of bird flu in March so far, and economists say any new outbreaks could increase prices again. The virus forced egg producers to execute millions of chicken since late last year.
In February, the egg retail price increased by 10.4 percent from the previous month, and continued to climb it for months, according to data from the work statistics office issued last week.
Economists noted that prices may not decrease equally throughout the country. Mr. Horbidal said that areas containing competing grocery stores may see low egg prices more quickly. Retail prices may also depend on grocery chains’ strategies, as some choose to keep the prices less to lure customers in stores.
“They can pass completely sentences of wholesale prices on us, or not at all, or somewhere between them,” said David Anderson, a professor of economics and business at the Center Center in Danville, Kentucky.
President Trump, who made the decrease in groceries a major part of his campaign, jumped to the wholesale price, noting his decrease in his speech at the Ministry of Justice last week. At the same time, its comprehensive definitions have caused anxiety about the high prices of a range of products, including food.
Egg producers blame the spread of bird flu for the most strict supplies. Egg producers United, the Trade Association in Industry, indicated that the industry lost more than 40 million chicken laying eggs in 2024 and 31 million in the first two months of this year only with the acceleration of the virus.
Mr. Anderson said that bird flu has collided with “exciting ways.” But at the same time, he added: “The industry may see the influenza pandema as a cover to raise additional prices that are not necessarily necessary.”
“Part of it is that they really deal with a crisis,” he said. “It might be part of it,” do we have some cover to keep our prices artificially high? “
The Ministry of Justice in the early stages of the investigation in the fight against monopoly is looking into whether the main egg producers have shared information about pricing and supply that contribute to high prices. Some lawmakers and invitation groups had previously called on federal organizers to investigate pricing practices in the industry.