Egg prices have remained high this month, following concerns about increases in grain costs and the impacts of bird flu on agriculture.

In December 2022, egg production in Pennsylvania was down 17% from the year before, and the total number of egg-laying birds was down 15%, according to the northeastern USDA monthly chicken and egg report.

Co-owner Tom Charley, who runs three Shop ‘n Save stores in Westmoreland County, expected egg prices to drop from their $5.99 a dozen precipice at the end of last month. At the moment, he says, he’s seen a slight decrease of about a dollar.

“We are projecting it continuing to drop,” he said. “I don’t want to say that they are cheap right now, but they are decreasing in price. We are seeing some relief in the market.”

Charley has seen some lessening of customer interest in eggs but says it fits into a larger trend of consumers purchasing fewer items in the face of inflation.

“Sales are slowed down on eggs relative to when we were selling them for $1 a dozen, but you’re seeing price increases across the board,” he said. “People are buying less items in general. It’s not just eggs.”

Smaller local farms are still contending with high prices, though organic eggs are more expensive in general. Brett Morgan of Morgan Family Farm in Sewickley Township says his egg prices have increased from $5 to $6 in the past 30 days.

At HEAL Farms, an organic operation in Apollo, prices have stuck at $7 a dozen for premium eggs since the end of December. Owner Adam Mason says he still is struggling with feed and supply costs. He hasn’t run out of feed yet, but when he next has to buy more, he will reassess his prices.

“If my feed prices increase, I’m going to have to pass that along to the consumer just to stay afloat,” he said.

The price of new chicks has become more expensive in recent months, he added, rising from around $2 each up to $5.

“Everything is going up,” he said. “I think it’s foolish to think that egg prices are going to be less than a dollar a dozen again. I just don’t ever see that happening with grain prices the way they are.”

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