Posted on 01/10/2023 10:57:58 AM PST by Red Badger
Eggs have been a pretty cheap, basic food across history.
Well, they were cheap anyway, until recently:
The rising cost of eggs in the U.S. is denting household budgets. Americans in recent years have increased the number of eggs they consume while reducing their intake of beef and venison, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ...
In California, for example, data shows the average price for a dozen eggs reached $7.37 last week, compared with $2.35 a year ago. The national average egg price per dozen wholesale is now $3.30, the USDA said last week. The average price for a dozen eggs by U.S. city grew to a record $3.58 in November, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Those numbers, of course, don't capture the whole story. It's true that eggs are just obscenely expensive in California:
But they're increasingly not cheap anywhere else, either. Here's prices in one part of Texas — that's $8.70 for 18 eggs, or about $6 per dozen.
In some cases, meanwhile, there are simply no eggs available at any price:
So what's behind this spiraling situation? Two familiar factors: Supply and demand.
Egg consumption has grown in part because more families are eating them as their main protein substitute, Los Angeles Times reporter Sonja Sharp told CBS News. "Each of us eats about as many eggs as one hen can lay a year," she said.
As demand for eggs has risen, production in the U.S. has slumped because of the ongoing bird, or "avian," flu epidemic. Nearly 58 million birds have been infected with avian flu as of January 6, the USDA said, making it the deadliest outbreak in U.S. history. Infected birds must be slaughtered, causing egg supplies to fall and prices to surge.
So people have moved away from meat and towards eggs, sending demand up-up-up:
...while bird flu has culled millions of layers from U.S. flocks, driving supply to crater into the ground:
Prices will surely come down again, but it will probably be a while:
Sharp said prices will likely not fall again until after new chickens are born without the infection and grow to egg-laying age. More than 300 flocks of farm-raised poultry have been hit by the outbreak as of last Friday, according to USDA data.
The very modestly good news is that skyrocketing food prices have been offset by decreases in other consumer categories:
The Consumer Price Index — a closely watched inflation gauge — rose 7.1% in December from the previous year. Falling prices for energy, commodities and used cars offset increases in food and shelter.
Stay strong, folks, we're not out of the woods yet.
Yes, I know all about ducks. We live in a neighborhood between large ponds that have lots of Muscovy ducks and a few mallards. There are some crossbreeds as well............
Current wholesale egg prices are $4 to over $5 per dozen. Some retailers are using them as loss leaders.
And soon you will see more formerly law-abiding people following the examples set by their urban neighbors and walking out of the grocery store with a cart full of food that they didn’t pay for.
In 2008 it was $26 / 100 pound sack from my co-op. Laying hens eat like gluttons, especially in cold weather. As much time on dirt, grass, woods, and brush as possible cuts input costs by at least 50%. Gets rid of all your garden pests, fleas, mosquitoes, beetles, grubs, white flies, scale, tomato worm moths, snakes, lizards, moles, and mice, too.
There is a fair amount of work in addition to the investment.
The Consumer Price Index — a closely watched inflation gauge — rose 7.1% in December from the previous year. Falling prices for energy, commodities and used cars offset increases in food and shelter.
Ah, yes, the price of gas is only up 50% instead of 100%, similar to the price of used cars. Some "good news."
I did the grocery shopping this morning. It’s BRUTAL! Ugh! Quite a number of shortages too, especially on eggs and dairy. Empty shelves, on a Tuesday with NO snow storms predicted for 10+ days out. They had frozen chicken breasts on sale for $1.99/pound and they were sold out. The Butcher told me they were on the way...but I wasn’t hanging around just for that.
Once again, I’m re-vamping the entire way I feed us. It’s insane. If I cut any more corners, I’m going to end up with a paper snowflake, LOL!
Gas went up again, too. Premium (no corn!) by me (SW corner of WI) is now back up to $3.69/gallon.
Let’s Go, Brandon! *SPIT*
Ducks have unusual breeding habits.
Like baby formula Joe Biden will import eggs from China. Would you eat eggs from China?
Maybe the illegals are NOT doing the jobs Americans just won't do (typed in my best Bush voice).
Absolutely insane.
I remember when a dozen was $1.08 and the 18-pack was about $1.49.
I used to spend about $0.50 more and buy Eggland's Best brand because I thought they were superior and they cracked easier but not anymore.
I'm buying almost everything store-brand these days.
Yes, and there was a goose that I swear bred with some ducks there as well!.........................
1000 YEAR OLD EGGS?..........................
Up next is mad cow, disease and swine flu. It’s time for Americans to be on the vegan diet.
Biden expects Americans to lay their own eggs
But, ducks are messier to keep than chickens.
But, ducks are messier to keep than chickens.
But, ducks are messier to keep than chickens.
But, ducks are messier to keep than chickens.
Sorry just agreeing with you . . . tried that once ;)
Our local feed store gives away one duck with every four chicks/ Fool me once . . .
I’ve been thinking about adding some guineas to our 30 head of chickens. But then I browse my guinea FB group and talk myself out of it. Hard to beat a plain ol chicken.
No eggs on my plate for a while now. Oatmeal is a better bargain, budget is unable to say Yes to hen’s fruit.
Pisses me off.
This is part of the transition for all Americans to be on a vegan diet.
This is part of the transition for all Americans to be on a vegan diet.
This is part of the transition for all Americans to be on a vegan diet.
This is part of the transition for all Americans to be on a vegan diet.
This is part of the transition for all Americans to be on a vegan diet.
It’s the Biden dividend
It’s the Biden dividend
It’s the Biden dividend
Here in York, PA, Jumbo Eggs are now $7.99/ doz, at Weis Market.
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