The Department of Agriculture warned egg prices may increase more than 20% this year, after December saw a year-over-year increase of 36.8%.

A shortage of chicken meat isn't on the menu for the U.S., experts said, even as eggs remain relatively expensive and in short supply nationwide. At least not due to bird flu-related shortages. Still,

With prices rising rapidly, some of the nation’s biggest grocery store chains — including Trader Joe's, Walmart and Costco — have begun rationing eggs.

The latest monthly consumer price index showed that the average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set two years earlier and more than double the low of $2.04 that was recorded in August 2023.

Egg prices have reached a record high in the U.S. as an ongoing bird flu outbreak that began in 2022 is making eggs terribly expensive right now.