Feb. 25 The Department of Agriculture released an updated food price outlook report for the year predicting that egg prices would increase 41.1% in 2025 as they continue to experience “volatile month-to-month changes” because of the ongoing bird flu outbreak—up from the 20.3% increase the USDA predicted in January.

A lot goes into the production of eggs — and with the Trump administration’s tariff policies potentially affecting costs for chicken feed and equipment, bird flu isn’t the only reason U.S. consumers may continue to pay high prices for eggs at the grocery store.

Egg prices fell $1.20 in March, according to the USDA, but the market remains unpredictable. With no cure for avian flu, the government orders entire flocks to be put down to contain outbreaks. Over 35 million birds have been lost this year,