The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will discontinue its annual Easter season egg inventory reports, just weeks before the spring holiday, as the bird flu continues to devastate egg supplies nationwide.
The ongoing avian influenza outbreak has worsened in recent months, leading to higher prices and widespread shortages. Many grocery stores have implemented purchase limits on eggs, while some restaurants have added temporary surcharges to offset rising costs. Egg prices have surged 239% between January 2020 and January 2025, according to federal data.
The seasonal USDA report previously provided weekly updates on egg inventory and pricing trends leading up to Easter and the Monday following the holiday. These reports also included comparisons to egg market conditions over the past four years. The USDA quietly announced the end of these reports in a statement on February 26. A spokesperson confirmed that while the reports are being discontinued, egg market data will still be available through other USDA sources.
The decision comes as the U.S. Justice Department opens an investigation into the steep rise in egg prices, citing potential antitrust concerns. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, officials are looking into whether price manipulation or market consolidation has contributed to the extreme cost increases.
Easter is historically the second-largest period of egg demand each year, following the winter holiday season. Eggs play a central role in Easter traditions and Passover celebrations, and this year’s holidays fall later than usual—Easter on April 20 and Passover beginning April 12.
Industry analysts say the egg market is currently under severe pressure. According to Karyn Rispoli, managing editor for egg pricing at Expana, recent wholesale price increases are now being reflected more accurately at the retail level. This, along with purchase restrictions, has started to slow demand. However, after months of supply constraints, the industry is now facing a sudden surplus, which is driving down spot market values.
Last week, Midwest large eggs reached a record-high price of $8.58 per dozen, but prices have since dropped to $7.23 per dozen. Even with this recent decline, egg prices are expected to rise by another 41.1% this year as the bird flu outbreak continues to disrupt U.S. agriculture.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently addressed the crisis in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, stating that the Trump administration will invest up to $1 billion in efforts to control the outbreak and bring egg prices back down. However, concerns remain over whether this funding will be enough to stabilize the market and ease financial pressure on American households.