Egg prices again on the rise, with a dozen eggs over $3 in August: Is bird flu to blame?

Egg prices are on the rise again, rising more than 28% in August compared to the same month last year.

A dozen eggs were priced at $3.20 this past August, compared to $2.00 in August 2023. The price of eggs has also increased compared to July, as egg prices were $3.08, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Although inflation is largely blamed for much of the rising prices of everyday items, the avian, or bird flu is the main factor making egg prices spike.

Millions of birds are becoming sick across the U.S., causing egg production to drop which leads to higher prices of eggs at the supermarket. As of September, more than one hundred million birds have been affected by bird flu since January 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The cases are spread throughout 48 different states across the country. 

Higher egg prices have been seen before

Even still, the prices for eggs in August are nothing compared to prices seen at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. In December 2022, a dozen eggs were $4.25, and in January 2023 they peaked at $4.82.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.