If you’ve been keeping tabs on your grocery receipts lately, you’ve probably noticed that egg prices have been on quite the wild ride. The volatile swings in what you pay for a dozen eggs became such a big deal it even made its way into the 2024 presidential election debate. Here’s what’s actually happening in the current egg market and how your state stacks up.
The Rollercoaster Pattern
Egg prices began 2025 at $5.81 per dozen on average across the U.S., then climbed to $7.52 by late January. The market hit its peak at $8.17 on March 3, making headlines nationwide. However, recent weeks have seen a significant pullback—prices dropped to $7.22 just three days later and continued sliding to $4.90 by mid-March. This brings the market closer to where things stood a year ago, around $4.38 per dozen.
The trajectory has been noteworthy: dramatic spikes followed by sharp corrections. Yet the underlying reality is that Americans’ egg buying experiences are far from uniform. Where you live determines just how much this volatility impacts your wallet.
The Geographic Price Gap
The data reveals striking disparities across the country. Some states are barely above the national reference point, while others face prices nearly double the norm. Understanding these regional variations helps explain why egg prices feel like a completely different issue depending on your zip code.
States with the highest egg prices:
Hawaii leads by a dramatic margin at $9.73 per dozen—a staggering 98.6% above the national average and 122.1% higher than last year’s pricing. Florida follows at $6.36 (29.8% above current average), while Alabama, Arizona, and California all land in the $6+ range, each representing roughly 23-25% premium pricing compared to the national median.
States with the lowest egg prices:
Missouri holds the best deals at $4.24 per dozen, followed closely by Nebraska at $4.25 and Kansas at $4.41. Indiana comes in at $4.33. These Midwest and South-Central states are offering prices 10-13.5% below the national average, making them the destinations for egg bargain-hunters.
The middle ground:
States like Illinois, Michigan, and North Dakota hover almost exactly at or within 2% of the national average, suggesting more stable and representative pricing patterns. Meanwhile, plenty of states—including Oregon, Delaware, and Maryland—sit just slightly below or above the national benchmark.
Year-Over-Year Changes Tell Another Story
When comparing March 2025 prices to March 2024, nearly all states show year-over-year increases. However, the scale varies significantly:
Indiana and Missouri are among the few states actually below last year’s prices (down 1.2-3.2% respectively). Most other states show increases ranging from single digits to over 40%. The biggest jumps appear in states like Hawaii (up 122.1% year-over-year), Florida (up 45.2%), and California (up 38.1%).
This pattern suggests that while recent weeks have brought relief from the January/February peaks, the overall trajectory still reflects elevated costs compared to the same period last year.
What This Means
The regional breakdown illustrates that egg prices aren’t just about national trends—they’re heavily influenced by local supply chains, production capacity, and distribution costs. Island states like Hawaii face structural cost advantages, while major agricultural regions and states with significant egg production can offer more competitive pricing.
For consumers, the takeaway is clear: your state’s egg prices don’t necessarily follow the national average, and what you pay matters significantly based on geography.
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Here's What Americans Are Actually Paying for Eggs Right Now—And It Varies Dramatically by State
If you’ve been keeping tabs on your grocery receipts lately, you’ve probably noticed that egg prices have been on quite the wild ride. The volatile swings in what you pay for a dozen eggs became such a big deal it even made its way into the 2024 presidential election debate. Here’s what’s actually happening in the current egg market and how your state stacks up.
The Rollercoaster Pattern
Egg prices began 2025 at $5.81 per dozen on average across the U.S., then climbed to $7.52 by late January. The market hit its peak at $8.17 on March 3, making headlines nationwide. However, recent weeks have seen a significant pullback—prices dropped to $7.22 just three days later and continued sliding to $4.90 by mid-March. This brings the market closer to where things stood a year ago, around $4.38 per dozen.
The trajectory has been noteworthy: dramatic spikes followed by sharp corrections. Yet the underlying reality is that Americans’ egg buying experiences are far from uniform. Where you live determines just how much this volatility impacts your wallet.
The Geographic Price Gap
The data reveals striking disparities across the country. Some states are barely above the national reference point, while others face prices nearly double the norm. Understanding these regional variations helps explain why egg prices feel like a completely different issue depending on your zip code.
States with the highest egg prices:
Hawaii leads by a dramatic margin at $9.73 per dozen—a staggering 98.6% above the national average and 122.1% higher than last year’s pricing. Florida follows at $6.36 (29.8% above current average), while Alabama, Arizona, and California all land in the $6+ range, each representing roughly 23-25% premium pricing compared to the national median.
States with the lowest egg prices:
Missouri holds the best deals at $4.24 per dozen, followed closely by Nebraska at $4.25 and Kansas at $4.41. Indiana comes in at $4.33. These Midwest and South-Central states are offering prices 10-13.5% below the national average, making them the destinations for egg bargain-hunters.
The middle ground:
States like Illinois, Michigan, and North Dakota hover almost exactly at or within 2% of the national average, suggesting more stable and representative pricing patterns. Meanwhile, plenty of states—including Oregon, Delaware, and Maryland—sit just slightly below or above the national benchmark.
Year-Over-Year Changes Tell Another Story
When comparing March 2025 prices to March 2024, nearly all states show year-over-year increases. However, the scale varies significantly:
Indiana and Missouri are among the few states actually below last year’s prices (down 1.2-3.2% respectively). Most other states show increases ranging from single digits to over 40%. The biggest jumps appear in states like Hawaii (up 122.1% year-over-year), Florida (up 45.2%), and California (up 38.1%).
This pattern suggests that while recent weeks have brought relief from the January/February peaks, the overall trajectory still reflects elevated costs compared to the same period last year.
What This Means
The regional breakdown illustrates that egg prices aren’t just about national trends—they’re heavily influenced by local supply chains, production capacity, and distribution costs. Island states like Hawaii face structural cost advantages, while major agricultural regions and states with significant egg production can offer more competitive pricing.
For consumers, the takeaway is clear: your state’s egg prices don’t necessarily follow the national average, and what you pay matters significantly based on geography.