Sunday funnies

Diogenes

Nemo me impune lacessit
stg020925dAPC-800x0.jpg
 
You Trumpys castigated Biden pver and over about the price of eggs. Now eggs go up duringTrump and you divert. His policies will crank up inflation bigly.

Is that so?

Egg prices began rising significantly in the United States around early 2022, with a notable surge continuing through 2023 and into 2025. Here are the primary reasons behind this increase:

Primary Reasons:
  1. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu):
    • Outbreak Timeline: The current major outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) started in February 2022. This outbreak has been one of the worst in U.S. history, leading to the culling of millions of birds, including egg-laying hens.
    • Impact on Supply: The virus forced farmers to kill entire flocks to prevent spread, significantly reducing the number of egg-laying hens. For instance, by 2025, it was reported that more than 145 million birds had been affected since the outbreak began, leading to a tight egg supply.
  2. Rising Production Costs:
    • Feed and Energy: Increases in the cost of chicken feed (like corn and soybeans) and energy costs for running farms have contributed to higher egg prices. These costs escalated due to broader economic pressures, including inflation.
  3. Legislative Changes and Consumer Preferences:
    • Cage-Free Requirements: Laws in states like California, Massachusetts, and others have mandated cage-free egg production, which is more expensive. This has led to higher production costs and, consequently, higher egg prices, especially where these laws are in effect or where retailers commit to cage-free eggs.

When Prices Began Rising:
  • 2022: The significant rise in egg prices was first noted in early 2022 due to the avian flu outbreak. Prices continued to climb throughout the year, with a marked increase by the end of 2022.
  • 2023: Prices hit a peak in January 2023, with the average price of a dozen large Grade A eggs reaching $4.82, following the worst of the avian flu outbreaks.
  • 2024-2025: Egg prices have continued to be volatile, with further increases noted due to ongoing avian flu cases, continued high demand, and the lingering effects of higher production costs. By early 2025, egg prices were still significantly higher than previous years, with projections suggesting another 20% increase throughout the year.

These factors combined have led to a sustained period of high egg prices, with the situation expected to continue unless there's significant control over avian flu outbreaks, stabilization in feed and energy costs, or adjustments in supply chain logistics.


@Grok
 
Back
Top