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.

The average price of a dozen large eggs starkly increased in California in December to $8.97, up from $5.68 in late November, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report.

In fact, egg prices have increased nationwide by around 38% in the last year, bringing the average cost of one dozen up to $3.65 in November versus $3.37 in October and $2.14 in November 2023, according to the U.