National Average Egg Price Tracker

Prices for large, white eggs have dropped significantly in national, New York, Midwest, and California markets, reflecting lower demand and increased availability:

• National prices for large, white eggs dropped $2.70 to $4.15/dozen.
• New York retail delivery prices fell $2.40 to $4.78/dozen.
• Midwest warehouse delivery prices decreased $0.95 to $7.47/dozen, and producer prices fell $0.95 to $7.29/dozen.
• California benchmark prices dropped $0.87 to $9.48/dozen, and California-compliant loose egg prices fell $2.54 to $5.04/dozen.

NOTEs:

There’s a prevailing trend or sentiment within the market currently, even if it’s not immediately reflected in the current prices. It indicates the direction prices are likely to move in the near future. This means that even if prices haven’t dramatically dropped yet, the market forces are pushing them downwards. Factors like increased supply, decreased demand, or anticipated future conditions are creating a downward pressure. It suggests that further price decreases are likely in the coming days or weeks.

Consumers are yet to notice lower egg prices at the grocery store. The reason is a key word Leavitt included: “wholesale.” Those are the prices distributors buy from farmers or middlemen. Consumer prices, which is what you’re charged at the grocery store, aren’t falling – they’re rising.

For the third straight week, wholesale egg prices fell to $4.15 per dozen, according to the US Department of Agriculture, a 30% decrease from the week before when prices were $6.85 a dozen.

But the average price for consumers is $5.90 per dozen eggs, up $0.94 from last month, the USDA notes. That’s because grocery stores may decide to keep prices at a higher price, even when wholesale prices drop, to try to recoup lost profits from prior weeks, noted Kevin Bergquist, sector manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, in an email to CNN.

“When or if consumers may benefit from lower wholesale prices is unpredictable,” said Bergquist. “There exists a disconnect between wholesale egg prices and retail egg prices for consumers. Each grocer makes independent egg pricing decisions based upon its own business goals.”