Officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have confirmed there is an egg shortage and linked it to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has spread between chicken flocks across the country since first appearing in the U.S. in February 2022. “Supply remains the greatest challenge in the marketplace as HPAI continues to impact commercial table egg layer flocks into the new year,” the USDA said in its weekly egg market overview on Jan. 17, 2025. “Consumer demand has been consistent into the new year despite record high prices and temporary shortages of some shell egg types in many retail markets as eggs remain a value protein even at current price levels.”