Trump Does The Impossible As Egg Prices Drop

Wholesale egg prices are beginning to decline as bird flu cases show signs of easing, but shoppers shouldn’t expect to see lower prices at grocery stores just yet. While President Trump is claiming success in reducing prices, his administration is also warning that the upcoming Easter holiday could drive costs back up.

The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has led to the culling of tens of millions of chickens, causing severe shortages and dramatic price increases. Many grocery stores have imposed purchase limits on eggs, while some restaurants have introduced temporary surcharges. On Wednesday, Trump credited his administration’s efforts for the falling prices, stating, “We did a lot of things that got the cost of eggs down, very substantially.” However, despite a decrease in wholesale prices, consumers continue to pay historically high prices at the register.

Last week, wholesale egg prices dropped by $1.20 to $6.85 per dozen, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s March 7 report. The USDA noted that recent flu outbreaks had become more localized, allowing producers in unaffected areas to begin addressing the ongoing egg supply deficit. The price of large eggs in the Midwest was $5.23 per dozen on Thursday, reflecting a 39% drop from its peak just two weeks prior, according to Karyn Rispoli, managing editor for eggs in the Americas at price-reporting service Expana.

Despite these wholesale declines, consumer prices for eggs still rose by 10% from January to February, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. Compared to last year, egg prices have surged by 59% from February 2024 to February 2025. The USDA predicts that egg prices will rise another 41.1% this year.

Grocery shoppers often experience a delay between shifts in wholesale and retail pricing. Rispoli explained that there is typically a two-to-three-week lag before lower wholesale prices translate to consumer savings. Since the market only began correcting last Monday, shoppers have yet to see a noticeable impact. The primary reason for the drop in wholesale prices is weakened demand, caused by widespread purchasing restrictions and already high prices at the store. Currently, consumers are still feeling the peak of the market in terms of what they pay at checkout.

The approaching Easter holiday could push egg prices even higher. Easter, which falls on April 20 this year, is traditionally one of the busiest times for egg sales due to its role in holiday celebrations and the Jewish holiday of Passover, which begins on April 12. Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged the seasonal price surge, stating, “We’re going into Easter season. This is always the highest price for eggs. We expect it to perhaps inch back up.”

Kevin Bergquist, sector manager for Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute, noted that egg prices will likely remain highly volatile for the foreseeable future but at a consistently elevated level. He warned that in the short term, high egg prices are expected to continue, with demand remaining strong as Easter approaches.

If egg prices remain high, some families may once again turn to creative alternatives like painting and hiding potatoes, a trend that first gained popularity in 2023 as a response to soaring egg costs.