U.S. Egg Prices Soar 15% in One Month Amid Bird Flu Outbreak – White House Blames Biden

Egg Shortage and Price Surge: The Impact of Bird Flu and U.S. Government Policies

Egg prices in the United States have surged by 15% in just one month, largely driven by a severe bird flu outbreak. The situation has led to widespread shortages in grocery stores, while the White House has shifted the blame to the previous administration under President Joe Biden. This price surge has intensified the ongoing financial pressures on American consumers. Here, we delve into how the avian flu is affecting egg prices and the broader implications of the government’s response.

The U.S. poultry industry has been hit hard by the spread of avian influenza (bird flu), which first emerged in 2022. Since the outbreak, nearly 148 million chickens and ducks have been culled to contain the disease, causing a significant disruption to egg production. Reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate that in December 2024 alone, 13.2 million laying hens were culled. This has led to a sharp decline in the availability of eggs across the country, pushing prices to record highs.

The egg price hike is not the only problem consumers are facing. Several areas have experienced egg shortages, with some major retailers like Costco in Los Angeles displaying notices of out-of-stock eggs. This combination of high prices and limited availability has left consumers frustrated and scrambling for alternatives.

Kevin Hassett, the Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation on February 16, 2025, where he blamed the Biden administration’s economic policies for the soaring egg prices. Hassett argued that inflationary pressures stemming from Biden’s policies were more severe than anticipated, affecting essential goods like eggs.

According to Hassett, inflation for common household items, including eggs, has been far higher than the government’s target, with a recent average inflation rate of 4.6% over the past three months. This inflationary pressure, he argued, was exacerbated by Biden's policies, especially in the latter part of his presidency. Hassett’s comments suggest that the government's response to the rising cost of living has not been effective in curbing inflation, which has negatively impacted everyday consumers.

In his interview, Hassett also criticized the lack of an effective plan to deal with the bird flu outbreak under Biden’s leadership. He argued that the administration’s approach had been insufficient in preventing the widespread culling of poultry. Hassett pointed out that the previous administration's efforts were more focused on containment measures that did not rely heavily on slaughtering millions of birds.

Hassett stressed that a more proactive approach, including biosecurity measures and better disease management, should have been implemented earlier. He suggested that had the Biden administration acted sooner and more decisively, the current egg price surge could have been mitigated.

As the situation continues to unfold, consumers across the U.S. are left grappling with higher prices, egg shortages, and questions about the government’s role in responding to the ongoing bird flu crisis.