Eggs are one of the most closely watched items in grocery stores, with prices close to or over $8 in some locations.
The causes of recent “egg flation” are as follows Rising US avian flu caseshas influenced farms and wiped out herds. Influenza, or H5N1, has been found in hundreds of millions of birds since January 2022.
Due to the high demand for eggs, stores limit their customers to just two dozen per purchase. Some stores have already sold out of supply and are waiting for restocking. Restaurants also began to take over prices due to a lack of eggs.
In 2019, consumers were able to pick up 12 eggs for around $1.54, but by last year the price had skyrocketed to $4.15. This is a 170% increase. It’s only been up since then.
“We continue to occur on egg farms and wipe off the chickens that are soaked in all the eggs,” said David Anderson, professor of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M.
Cacadodor Farm in Matteson Later last month, I lost thousands of chickens, bare the shelves, and the egg buyer barely left
A precedent for surge pricing.
This issue has affected shoppers not only in Chicago but across many other states. Earlier this month, around 100,000 eggs (worth an estimated $40,000) Stolen from a farm in Pennsylvania.
Consumables will continue to be contained depending on how long the outbreak continues. Experts say it could take several months before prices change.
In the meantime, the best advice for consumers is to compare prices and find more affordable options.
With egg shortages, some people look to alternatives
If the need is the mother of invention, the invention of the moment may belong to Cathy Shea Mormino, also known as the Chicken Chick, and may belong to the founder of chicken meat.
“People want fresh eggs, and that’s a good experience,” she said. “They’re not animals that you just put in your backyard and take eggs out of the shed like a vending machine every day.”
The Pennsylvania-based program will ship to Chicago. For $1500, you’ll get three nearly Lady Hens, along with instructions on how to care for your new friends.
It requires work, but if you do it right, it lays 8-14 eggs a week. It may be a crack that reshapes egg deficiency.
Egg prices across the Chicago area
After checking out 15 stores around Chicagoland, we found that the most expensive spot for dozen eggs is $8.99 in Aurora and Seven-Eleven is less than a dime in Dearborn, southern Chicago.
Is it the cheapest?
At Dolton, Food4less sells dozen medium eggs for $2.79. Whole Foods at Park Ridge is selling for $3.99, but as of Monday it said it was sold out.
Some Aldi and Mariano stores, like Trader Joe, have a limit on the number of eggs that customers can purchase at once.
Sams Club (Joliet)
18 Count Brown: $5.92 $2 Dozen White: $8.24
Cermak Fresh (Aurora; not available online)
Dozen Media: $8.99DOONS LARGE: $12.99
Amazon Fresh (Bensenville/Dupe County)
Large large eggs: $5.89 (currently sold out) Large eggs with 18 count: $8.29 (available)
Go Grocer (Lakeview)
Half a dozen: $3.99 (only one pack remained on the last check on Monday morning)
save-a-lot (midlogian)
Woodman’s Food Market (Buffalo Glove)
Major (Rolling Meadows)
Dozens of large scale: $4.99 18 counts Large scale: $7.19
PETES Fresh Market (Lemont)
Dozen: $6.002 Dozen: $21.94
Food4less (Dolton)
Dozen Media: $2.79DOONS LARGE: $2.9918-Count Large: $4.39
Costco (South Loop)
18 count: $6.39 SOLD on Monday, Tuesday
Aldi (Mandeline)
Target (State Street)
Dozens Large: $5.7918-Count: $8.49
Jewels (Niles)
Dozens of Large Scale $7.9918 Counts Large Scale: $11.99
Walmart (Rolling Meadows)
Half Dozen: $3.14DOONS LARGE $5.46DOONS EXTRA LARGE: $6.12
Tony’s Fresh Market (Whawkigan)
Whole Foods (Parque Ridge)
Trader Joe (Lincoln Park)
Marianos (Skoky)
Dozen Eggs: $7.9918-Count: $11.99
Dollar General (Chicago)
Seven Eleven (Chicago)
Walgreens (Chicago)
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Chris Ty
