The current egg scarcity in the United States has shifted responsibility to President Trump.
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Donald Trump vowed to lower food prices during his campaign, but egg prices are skyrocketing instead. Neither Trump nor his predecessor, Joe Biden, can do much about it. In the COVID-19 era, facts have little impact on the inflation debate.
The White House press secretary points the finger at the Biden administration and the Department of Agriculture for the current plight of American laying hens and the widespread egg shortage. They've ordered the culling of over 100 million chickens to combat avian flu, which has been spreading in the US since 2022. This has led to a decrease in hens and ultimately eggs, causing the scarcity.
But did Biden orchestrate this chicken massacre for no reason? Far from it. Avian flu is highly contagious, and it's affected around 130 million animals nationwide. While chicken meat is scarce in some areas, and egg prices are soaring, it's not just a Biden issue. The average price of a dozen caged eggs nationwide was $4.15 in December 2022, up from $1.20 in June 2019. The Department of Agriculture predicts another 20% increase in 2023.
California stores now sell a dozen organic eggs for over $10. Supermarkets across the country display notices of the nationwide crisis, with some even rationing sales. Even popular Southern chain, Waffle House, has hiked the price of each egg by 50 cents. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as inflation continues to affect Americans' wallets.
Trump promised to reduce costs for millions of Americans during his campaign. However, egg inflation persists, challenging his credibility. But there's little either president can do about it. Avian flu spreads quickly, and it may take up to nine months for US chicken populations to recover and prices to decrease noticeably.
Even Democrats blame Trump for the egg crisis. Nevada Senator Jackie Rosen accused him of doing nothing to curb rising living costs. His supporters argue that Elon Musk's attempts to shrink the US government are ineffective against escalating egg prices.
Trump's trade wars obstruct disease control efforts. Mass vaccinating the US poultry population against avian flu could help alleviate the egg shortage, but it'd also make distinguishing between healthy and sick chickens difficult. China, a major trade partner, already practices preemptive vaccination against avian flu, but Trump's trade conflicts make a consensus on disease control less likely.
So, Trump faces the egg crisis for the remainder of his term. The American public will ultimately judge him based on his campaign promises. However, egg prices peaked not under Trump but early in 2023 during the Biden administration when a dozen cost around $4.82. Despite this, egg inflation contributed to Biden's election defeat.
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The unprecedented increase in egg prices stems from several factors. Avian flu drives the highest contender, which has led to a substantial reduction in the egg supply. Nearly 100 million table egg-laying hens have been affected, resulting in over 13 million hens' deaths or slaughter. The culling process takes time to recover from, and new flocks require several months to start laying eggs again.
Additionally, rising demand for eggs contributes to the high prices. Per capita egg consumption has surged 20% since 2016. Furthermore, consumers have a growing preference for specialty eggs like cage-free and organic, which adds to the supply challenges due to HPAI.
Regulatory requirements also contribute to higher egg prices. Nine states have enacted laws requiring eggs sold locally to be cage-free. Implementing these changes requires additional production costs, adding to the overall increase in egg prices.
Enhanced biosecurity measures also play a role in the higher egg prices. Farmers need to implement stricter measures to prevent the spread of avian flu, which increases production costs, and these costs are then passed on to consumers.
Finally, market volatility contributes to the pronounced egg price increases. As supply and demand shifts, egg prices fluctuate significantly. Some retailers have even limited egg purchases, and others struggle to keep shelves stocked, further exacerbating the issue.
In summary, avian flu has severely impacted the egg supply, reducing the number of hens available for egg production and increasing production costs. The growing demand for eggs, particularly specialty eggs, regulatory requirements, and production costs all contribute to the significant increase in egg prices in the US.
Despite Donald Trump's campaign promise to lower food prices, particularly egg prices, they have instead skyrocketed during his term. The drastic increase can be attributed to several factors, including the spreading avian flu that has caused a significant reduction in the egg supply.
Despite the criticism toward both President Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden for the current egg situation, it's important to note that the avian flu is a highly contagious disease affecting millions of animals nationwide, making it challenging for either administration to quickly resolve the issue.
