U.S. egg prices have reached a new record average of $4.95 per dozen in January 2025, surpassing the previous record set in January 2023, according to federal data [1]. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a further 41% price increase throughout the year.

The surge in prices has led restaurants to implement surcharges, with Waffle House adding 50 cents per egg nationwide and Denny's varying charges by region [1]. In some areas, prices are significantly higher, with a San Francisco Safeway charging $10.99 per dozen.

The primary driver behind the price increases is an ongoing bird flu outbreak that has resulted in the slaughter of more than 166 million birds since 2022 [1]. Under federal policy, farmers must destroy entire flocks when a single bird tests positive for the virus.

The Trump administration has announced a $1 billion plan to address the crisis, focusing on enhanced biosecurity measures and exploring vaccine development [1]. However, the plan maintains the USDA's existing policy of mandatory flock culling when infections are detected.

Since President Trump's return to office, an additional 27,116,857 birds have been culled to contain the outbreak [1]. Industry experts largely agree that the bird flu outbreak is the main factor driving price increases, though some analysts question whether producers may be inflating prices to boost profits.