Eggflation: The Hidden Cause of Soaring Prices & How to Fight Back
Egg prices have soared, and it’s a hot topic everywhere we turn. Families rely on them as a staple food, whether for breakfast, baking, or even dinner (because who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner?). While inflation has played a role in rising costs in the past—peaking at 8% in 2022—it has since subsided significantly. So if inflation isn't to blame, why have egg prices surged? It’s gotten so bad that even Waffle House has imposed a $0.25 surcharge per eggs to help recoup the cost.
The news points to bird flu, and we’ll explore that, but is it the full picture—or just a handy scapegoat?
Egg Pricing: What’s Actually Rising?
When egg prices first spiked, it felt like a mass panic—almost reminiscent of the 2020 toilet paper crisis. Yet, curiously, not all eggs seem to be affected equally. If you visit a grocery store today, you’ll notice that the prices of standard white eggs have risen significantly, whereas Organic, Non-GMO, Free-Range, Pasture-Raised Eggs have remained relatively stable.
A recent trip to Stop & Shop revealed that a dozen eggs now range from $8 to $10, with an average cost of $8.66 per dozen.
Historically, pasture-raised, non-GMO, and organic eggs have always been more expensive. However, the price gap between these premium eggs and standard white eggs has narrowed dramatically. Previously, white eggs were available for as little as $1.99 per dozen, but now they are nearly as expensive as their high-quality counterparts.
Below is a chart of the average cost of eggs since 2015:
And for context, lets look at the prices of Organic, Non-GMO, Free-Range, Pasture-Raised Eggs in the same time period:
Looking back over the past decade, they haven’t gone up nearly to the level which your traditional white eggs have, with the most noticeable price increase during 2023.
So, if premium eggs are stable, it’s the plain white eggs—once the budget option—that must be skyrocketing. I remember when white eggs cost $1.99/dozen, a steal compared to $6.50 for fancier ones such as in 2020. Now, that gap’s nearly gone. Let’s figure out why.
The Bird Flu Factor
The mainstream narrative blames bird flu (avian influenza), which spreads through:
Direct Contact: Infected birds shed the virus in feces, saliva, and respiratory secretions. Healthy birds catch it from these or contaminated materials.
Indirect Contact: The virus travels via manure, egg crates, equipment, or even people’s shoes and clothes. Wild birds can contaminate feed, infecting poultry indirectly.
Since 2022, bird flu has claimed over 153 million birds, with 31 million lost in 2025 alone. But it’s not just the virus—it’s how factory farms turn a manageable outbreak into a market-shaking crisis. The issue isn’t inevitable; it’s engineered by the system.
Factory Farming & Its Role in the Crisis
It’s important to recognize that factory-farmed eggs make up 99% of the U.S. egg market. Let’s break down the different egg production methods:
Factory-Farmed: Guidelines give each hen just 67 square inches—barely room to move, let alone stretch their wings. Battery cages block natural behaviors like nesting, packing thousands of birds into tight sheds.
Free-Range: Hens need “outdoor access” (sometimes just a tiny “pop hole”) and 2 sq ft each, outdoors at least 6 hours daily, weather permitting.
Pasture-Raised: Hens get 108 sq ft each (1,000 birds per 2.5 acres), with year-round outdoor access and rotated fields, plus housing for safety.
In the book Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, one factory shed—45 ft wide by 490 ft long (61.72% smaller than a football field)—crams in 33,000 birds. Newer sheds, at 60 ft wide by 504 ft long (47.5% smaller than a football field), hold 50,000. Such extreme crowding creates the perfect breeding ground for disease, including bird flu. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Egg-onomics: Supply, Demand, and Ethics
Picture yourself as a egg producer. Bird flu wipes out most of your flock. With less supply, you’d raise prices on what’s left—but you still need to compete. If multiple factory farms lose birds, the market shifts. Prices for their eggs spike everywhere. Even if your farm avoids the flu, you’d hike prices too. Why? If you didn’t, everyone would snap up your $1.99 eggs, and you’d run dry, unable to restock fast enough to meet demand.
This means:
Prices Increase: Fewer eggs mean higher prices, due to low supply and same demand.
Market Adjustment: Competing farms also raise their prices due to their higher demand and/or supply shortage.
Consumer Behavior Shifts: As the price gap between standard and premium eggs shrinks, more people opt for high-quality eggs.
So, factory egg prices climb to maximize profit (or minimize loss). At Stop & Shop, white eggs hit $7.99/dozen, while free range/pasture-raised eggs range from $8.50-$10.00. Suddenly, the “fancy” eggs look appealing. If the pasture raised farms see a 10% demand increase from shoppers switching to pasture-raised, demand rises. A $9.00 dozen in 2024 becomes $9.90 in 2025—right where Stop & Shop’s prices are now. Not saying that is the sole cause of their price rising, but it is the economics of it - higher demand, same inventory, leads to higher pricing.
Interestingly, a February 13, 2025 report from Wormuth Farms revealed that their pasture-raised hens had zero cases of bird flu over three years. This suggests that industrial farming conditions, rather than the virus itself, are the real issue. You can find the Wormuth Farms article here.
The Real Culprit: Unethical Farming Practices
While the media focuses on bird flu and inflation, the underlying issue is the unethical and unsustainable farming practices of large-scale egg producers. By prioritizing mass production over animal welfare, factory farms have made their flocks more vulnerable to disease, leading to supply shortages and price spikes.
Because these massive operations control 99% of the market, their pricing decisions impact the entire industry. Meanwhile, pasture-raised producers raise prices too—not from losses of their flock, but from higher demand as shoppers ditch their once much cheaper factory farmed counterparts.
The Takeaway: From Backyard Flock to Financial Freedom
In the end, you, the consumer, are stuck paying the price for these flawed practices. But here’s the silver lining: you don’t have to stay trapped in this broken system.
Picture this: your own backyard flock, delivering fresh, ethically sourced eggs daily. You’d slash your grocery bill over time while gaining independence and self-reliance. It’s simpler than you think—three hens need just a 4x4 ft coop and a small run, about the size of a garden shed, to produce up to 18 eggs a week that will last 6 months or more in the fridge. At Eagle Legacy Planning, we’re all about building wealth through assets that work for you, not against you. By growing your own resources—whether it’s backyard chickens or other smart ventures—you’re laying the groundwork for a sustainable lifestyle and a stronger financial future.
So why not flip this challenge into an opportunity? Start small: learn the basics of raising chickens and watch how your own eggs cut costs, reduce dependency, and even boost your property’s value. Then take it further—turn that flock into a profit engine. Sell surplus eggs to neighbors, hit up local farmers’ markets, or supply a nearby store. Suddenly, your chickens aren’t just feeding your family—they’re a small business, an income-generating asset in your backyard.
True wealth isn’t just about stacking cash; it’s about crafting freedom and a legacy that lasts. By seizing control of your food supply and spinning it into a revenue stream, you shield your family from soaring prices while building financial security beyond the system’s reach.
Take Control of Your Future—Start Building Your Legacy Today!
Tired of watching prices rise while relying on a broken system? It’s time to take control of your family's future. Whether it’s producing your own food, creating passive income, or securing long-term financial stability, true wealth comes from assets—not uncertainty.
At Eagle Legacy Planning, we help families like yours build generational wealth through smart strategies that put you in control. Want to learn how you can create a lasting legacy for your family? Sign up for our blog for expert insights, or schedule a free consultation to start your journey toward financial freedom today!
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Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author is not a financial advisor. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
Sources:
https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/eggs-us
https://www.scratchandpeck.com/chicken-duck-resources/the-price-of-organic-non-gmo-free-range-pasture-raised-eggs-a-decade-in-review/
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, page 118.
https://thehumaneleague.org/article/factory-chickens
https://certifiedhumane.org/free-range-and-pasture-raised-officially-defined-by-hfac-for-certified-humane-label/
https://usafacts.org/articles/bird-flu-outbreak-tracker/
https://organicfeeds.com/how-long-can-fresh-backyard-chicken-eggs-last/