Charlotte egg prices nearly triple in two months. Some grocery stores limit purchases
Charlotte-area grocery shoppers may feel sticker shock picking up a carton of eggs, which have nearly tripled in price at some stores over the past two months.
Taming inflation that has wreaked havoc with the cost of groceries, including eggs, was part of President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. He pledged Day 1 price cuts. But a month later, that hasn’t happened.
U.S. egg prices have reached an all-time high of $7.99 this month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In the Charlotte area, prices have risen as much as 175% in less than two months, according to a Charlotte Observer comparison this month. The U.S. egg supply has been hard hit by avian influenza, which is impacting egg prices across the country.
“When there are fewer eggs, prices can rise if demand remains strong or increases,” Lisa Prince, executive director of the North Carolina Egg Association, previously told the Observer.
And some stores, like discount German grocers Lidl and Aldi, are limiting the number of egg purchases on all cartons. Online, Harris Teeter also had been limiting egg purchases to two since at least the beginning of February.
“Due to ongoing avian influenza outbreak, we are currently experiencing supply shortages on all egg types,” a sign atop the egg case at the Harris Teeter in Steelcroft shopping center said Feb. 13.
Harris Teeter did not respond to requests for comment.
Publix has not limited purchases but told the Observer that customers may experience limited availability of eggs.
“Like many retailers, we are experiencing shortages on eggs due to the Avian Bird Flu (HPAI), which has created a rise in egg demand,” the Lakeland, Florida-based grocery chain stated. “We encourage customers to check back regularly, as our stores are receiving routine deliveries.”
How much has the price of eggs increased at Charlotte stores?
The price of a dozen large eggs has skyrocketed since the end of December at all grocery stores, an Observer price check found. Less than seven weeks ago, the lowest-priced eggs cost $1.99 at Target and the highest was $4.79 at Trader Joe’s.
On Feb. 13, prices were up 15% to 175% in these stores we visited in the Steele Creek area compared to the end of December:
▪ Lidl: Up 124% from $2.14 to $4.79
▪ Aldi: Up 37% from $3.85 to $5.29
▪ Publix: Up 77% from $2.75 to $4.89
▪ Target: Up 175% from $1.99 to $5.49
▪ Harris Teeter: Up 15% from $3.99 to $4.59
An online search shows retailers nearby in southwest Charlotte we compared in December:
▪ Walmart: Up 50% from $3.97 to $5.97
▪ Food Lion: Up 25% from $3.99 to $4.99
Egg purchase limits at Charlotte grocery stores
Here’s what we found on limiting all egg purchases and availability:
▪ Lidl
Purchase limit: two, fully stocked
▪ Aldi
Purchase limit: two, fully stocked
▪ Publix
Purchase limit: None, limited stock
▪ Target
Purchase limit: None, fully stocked
▪ Harris Teeter
Purchase limit: None, fully stocked. Online purchase limit was two.
Neither Walmart nor Food Lion listed egg limits online.
What to expect about egg prices next
Wholesale egg prices are not set by farmers, Prince with the state egg association said. Eggs are priced on the commodity market and driven by supply and demand.
The avian influenza virus has been detected in U.S. wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry and backyard or hobbyist flocks beginning in January 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
The outbreaks have resulted in less hens and fewer eggs in the overall market, North Carolina Egg Association said.
On Tuesday, several national news outlets said the U.S. Department of Agriculture was trying to rehire several bird flu experts mistakenly fired with the Trump administration’s mass layoffs as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s cost cuts.
Supply and prices will only stabilize once farms and producers can recover their flocks.
“It is difficult to predict how or when egg prices may change. Egg pricing depends on the overall supply,” Prince told the Observer last month. “It’s important to remember that eggs are still a great value when compared with other sources of healthy proteins.”
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This story was originally published February 21, 2025 at 5:40 AM with the headline "Charlotte egg prices nearly triple in two months. Some grocery stores limit purchases."