Iowans, Here’s Some Good News For The Next Time You Grocery Shop
How long have we been hearing about the price of...well, just about everything, skyrocketing. During the summer of 2022, the cost of gas was at an all-time high, and the price of chicken and beef was through the roof, which seemed to bleed into 2023. Whether you were at Hy-Vee, Aldi, or whichever grocery store of your choice, everything seemed to cost an arm and a leg. The price of eggs was no different.
According to CNBC, the price of eggs skyrocketed over 70% in 2022. As the cost of just about everything at the grocery store went up last year, I'm not sure anything was hit as hard as the price of eggs.
What Happened?
Why were eggs so expensive in 2022? The standard supply chain issues you constantly read about in 2022 played a factor as well as the avian bird flu. There was an outbreak that wiped out over 50 million birds in 2022, according to CNBC. Not only that but farmers were also dealing with the higher cost of fuel and feed.
The Good News
Finally, Iowans and the rest of the country should start seeing some relief at the grocery store, at least when it comes to egg prices. According to KCRG, last week the wholesale price of Midwest large eggs dropped to 94 cents for a dozen. Only six months ago, this box would've cost nearly $6.
CNN reports that the supply of eggs is back on track after the avian flu outbreak. While the industry had braced for more bird flu cases in 2023, the virus appears to be a lot more under control. In December of 2022, there were about 308 million hens laying eggs and it's been reported that the number of hens increased to 314 million in the early parts of April.
All I can say is, thank goodness. Even if the prices of other groceries don't come crashing down like the price of eggs, at least something has given us a little break at the grocery store. My fiance and I buy eggs just about every time we visit our favorite Hyvee. I know what I'm having for breakfast the rest of the week.