A trip to the supermarket is certainly more expensive than it used to be — but how much more?
At least when it comes to eggs, prices in Honolulu have climbed over the past few years, according to recent statistics from the state Department of Agriculture Market Analysis and News Branch.
"Between Dec. 9-13, from 2021 to 2024, retail egg prices in Honolulu increased 28.4% for a carton of 12 eggs and 34% for a carton of 18 eggs," the report noted. "From 2023 to 2024, local egg prices saw a modest increase, which was attributed to a sharp rise in supply from a local farm. In contrast, Mainland egg prices increased substantially during the same reference week from 2021 to 2024, rising by 51.8% for a carton of 12 eggs and 78.3% for a carton of 18 eggs."
An increase in prices in December 2024 was largely driven by “reported concerns over the avian flu,” the report said.
And while prices are higher, the price gap between the cost of locally produced eggs and eggs from the Mainland has narrowed, the data shows.
For the week of Dec. 9-13, 2024, a dozen large, locally produced eggs cost $8.87 while a dozen large eggs from Mainland producers cost $8.35 — a price gap of 6.2%.
But during the same week in 2021, shoppers could get a dozen large, locally produced eggs for $6.91 while a dozen large eggs from the Mainland were $5.50 — a price gap of 25.6%.
A carton of 18 local eggs was $8.52 that same week in 2021 and the same count of Mainland eggs were $6.14, a difference of 38.8%. During the week of Dec. 9-13, 2024, the price for a carton of 18 local eggs was $11.42 and a carton of 18 Mainland eggs was $10.95, a difference of 4.3%.
A Jan. 28 article from the Associated Press said that the bird flu is forcing farmers to "slaughter millions of chickens a month," which has driven U.S egg prices higher.
“Anytime the virus is found on a poultry farm, the entire flock is slaughtered to help limit the virus’ spread. And with massive egg farms routinely housing more than 1 million chickens, just a few infections can cause a supply crunch,” AP reported. “The problem tends to linger because it takes months to dispose of all the carcasses, disinfect barns and bring in new birds.”
AP added, “More than 145 million chickens, turkeys and other birds have been slaughtered since the current outbreak began, with the vast majority of them being egg-laying chickens.”
According Hawai‘iʻs 2022 ag census, which was provided to Aloha State Daily by a spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Division, there are an estimated 697 egg farms in Hawai‘i, including five larger commercial farms on O‘ahu, with a total inventory of approximately 298,000 birds raised to lay eggs.
“Assuming each layer produces one egg per day, and do so for 360 days a year, this would result in an estimated annual production of 107,280,000 eggs,” the division noted.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first confirmed in Hawai'i last November, in a backyard flock of various birds in Central O'ahu, according to the state. But a Jan. 30 announcement from the Department of Agriculture said that "no further detections of the virus have been confirmed and no Hawai‘i egg production facilities have been involved."
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
