CALIFORNIA STATE – California’s year-long battle with avian-influenza outbreaks, cage-free housing rules and holiday demand pushed retail egg prices to eye-watering levels.
While statewide benchmarks hit $8.97 per dozen in late 2024, some metro areas felt an even sharper sting. We observed eggs here in the Bay Area topping $14 per dozen at some stores.
Worst sticker shock, by metro
- San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward – $9.22 per dozen in February (USDA retail average); up 53 percent from a year earlier.
- Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim – $8.97 per dozen in December, a 70 percent jump in a single month after the largest hen culling in Southern California.
- San Diego–Carlsbad – Also $8.97 per dozen in late December; local bakers reported driving to multiple stores to find stock as prices climbed 72 percent in four weeks.
- Chico & Northern Sacramento Valley – Shoppers saw $9–$13 price tags, with an 18-count carton topping $12.99 at some Safeway locations and $9.52 online at Walmart.
(Prices refer to USDA “Grade A, large” averages unless noted.)
Some places, like Trader Joe’s, managed to keep costs low by limiting how many eggs people could buy.
Why the Bay Area topped the list
- Bird-flu losses: California poultry farms lost more than 6 million layers between November and February, with major hits in Merced, Riverside and Stanislaus counties.
- Cage-free law (Prop 12): All eggs sold in the state must come from cage-free hens, a rule that limits quick imports when supply tightens.
- Higher costs: Feed, fuel and labor all run higher in coastal metros, widening the gap between California cities and the national average of $5.12 in April.
Will prices finally crack?
USDA economists expect gradual relief this summer if no new outbreaks occur, but warn that “prices are likely to stay above pre-pandemic norms through at least late 2025.”
In the meantime:
- Shop mid-week when supermarkets reset promo flyers.
- Freeze ahead: Beat sales by cracking eggs into silicone ice-cube trays and freezing for up to six months.
- Compare formats: Liquid or powdered eggs can be 20-40 percent cheaper per serving than shell eggs right now.
- Consider alternatives: Bay Area sales of plant-based Just Egg have risen five-fold this spring as shoppers look for budget backups.
Of course, you could also do what we do here at the Bay Area Telegraph, and start raising backyard chickens!
