When you're standing in the grocery store staring at a carton of eggs that costs as much as your damn lunch, you know something's gone terribly wrong with our food system. The price of eggs, that essential protein source that's supposed to be affordable for everyone, has become yet another symbol of American economic inequality and market manipulation. Let's crack open this clusterfuck and see what's really going on.

Remember when eggs were actually affordable? Throughout the early 2010s, egg prices maintained a relatively stable pattern, averaging between $1.50 and $2.00 per dozen for large Grade A eggs. Seasonal fluctuations were predictable, with slight increases during holiday baking seasons and the occasional dip during overproduction periods. This stability wasn't an accident – it reflected a functioning, if imperfect, market system.

The first major disruption hit in 2015 when an avian influenza outbreak decimated chicken populations across the Midwest. Prices jumped to nearly $3 per dozen in some regions, giving us our first taste of what was to come. But unlike recent years, the market actually corrected itself relatively quickly, and by early 2016, prices had stabilized again.

Then came COVID-19, and holy shit, did things get weird. Panic buying emptied shelves, while restaurant closures created massive supply chain disruptions. The industry couldn't pivot fast enough from commercial to retail packaging, leading to the absurd situation of farmers destroying eggs while grocery stores limited purchases. Average prices fluctuated wildly, jumping between $2 and $3 per dozen as the market tried to find its ass with both hands.

If you thought 2020 was bad, 2022-2023 said "hold my beer." A combination of factors created an unprecedented price spike:

By January 2023, prices hit a fucking ridiculous national average of $4.82 per dozen. Some urban areas saw prices over $7 for basic eggs – not even the fancy organic, free-range stuff.

Here's where it gets really infuriating. The egg industry has become increasingly consolidated over the past 15 years. Cal-Maine Foods, which controls about 20% of the retail egg market, reported record profits during these price spikes. Their net income increased by over 600% in 2022-2023 compared to the previous year. Not suspicious at all, right?

The political response to egg price inflation has been predictably useless. Former President Trump, displaying his usual grasp of economics, said in a 2023 Truth Social post: "Egg prices are high because the Democrats and their radical environmental policies are killing our farmers. We had the best egg prices, the most beautiful egg prices you've ever seen, under my administration."

This kind of simplistic bullshit ignores the real structural issues in our food system. The truth is, both parties have failed to address agricultural monopolies and market manipulation.

These price increases haven't hit everyone equally. For middle-class households, it's an annoyance. For low-income families, it's a fucking disaster. Eggs are one of the most cost-effective protein sources, and their price inflation has forced difficult dietary changes on already struggling families.

As of early 2024, prices have moderated somewhat but remain significantly higher than pre-2020 levels. The industry claims this is the "new normal," which is code for "we realized we could charge more and get away with it."