Egg prices at the grocery store shocked many consumers over the recent holiday season, and those prices are expected to continue to climb after an unanticipated spike in the number of bird flu cases in late 2024 led to a significant drop in the number of egg-laying hens in the United States.

With the prices of everything from gas to feed on the upswing, so too is the price of getting eggs on shelves. Average U.S. gas prices sit around $3.069 per gallon, according to AAA, which is roughly in line with average prices from a year ago, but prices are still higher than pre-pandemic levels.

In its overview of egg markets last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the California benchmark for large shell eggs rose $0.78 to $8.97 per dozen, due to a reduction in supply.