Are eggs cheaper now?
Yes — by the official numbers eggs are markedly cheaper than they were a year ago. A dozen Grade A large eggs averaged $2.19 in May 2026, −51.8% compared with a year earlier and −2.6% from the prior month.
For context, eggs spiked to a record $6.23 in March 2025 during the avian-influenza outbreak that culled laying flocks. Today's price sits roughly 65% below that high. BLS has tracked this exact series since January 1980, so the swing from shortage to relief is well documented rather than anecdotal.
Egg prices are unusually volatile because supply collapses fast when flocks are infected and recovers only as birds are replaced — which is why the dozen-egg price is one of the most-searched grocery numbers in the country.
Frequently asked
How much do eggs cost right now?
Eggs averaged $2.19 per dozen at the U.S. city average in May 2026, per BLS CPI Average Price Data.
Why did egg prices spike?
Avian influenza outbreaks culled millions of laying hens, cutting supply and pushing the dozen-egg price to a record $6.23 in March 2025.
Are eggs still going down?
Eggs are −2.6% month over month and −51.8% year over year as of May 2026.