Whether you eat eggs on rare occasions or buy them multiple times a week, you’ve likely seen some record-high prices. The national average for a dozen eggs was $4.95 at the end of January, and the situation has gotten so dire that Waffle House and Denny’s have begun adding a surcharge for every egg they sell.
Why are egg prices so high? One reason is a major bird flu outbreak, which has led to millions of hens being culled. But while the bird flu has contributed to a severe egg shortage, the severity of its impact is now being questioned: The US Justice Department has begun to investigate whether egg producers are purposely limiting supplies, in order to drive costs up.
There’s no doubt that egg prices have surged — more than doubling in some areas over the past six months. And the impact goes beyond higher costs; empty shelves are becoming more common, and some grocery stores are…
