By Jamie Martin
Egg prices in the United States are climbing again after reaching their lowest point in February 2026, marking the lowest levels since 2023. The recent rise is linked to seasonal demand, particularly for Easter, said Jada Thompson, a poultry agricultural economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“The story with egg prices now is uncertain,” said Thompson. “We know there is seasonal demand, but with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza rolling around and biological lags in replenishment, farmers really don’t have a lot of control when it comes to planning and egg placements. “They and consumers just have to ride the waves, and those waves have been bad these past few years.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, table-egg production in January 2026 totaled 656.7 million dozen, up 2.2% from January 2025. The increase was driven by a small rise in average layer inventory and the lay rate.
HPAI remains a significant concern, causing the loss of 2.8 million commercial egg layers in January. February saw an additional 9.5 million layers lost, particularly in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. These losses led the USDA to lower its production forecasts for the first and second quarters of 2026.
“Fewer eggs tighten supply and can drive prices up,” said Thompson. “The change in those prices will depend on how many HPAI cases we get throughout the year. Nobody likes it, but we’ll have to wait and see the supply and demand working in real time.”
Both consumers and farmers must adapt to the ongoing fluctuations. The past few years have shown that egg prices can be highly volatile, creating challenges for budgeting and planning.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-chubarovy
Categories: National