Easter traditions crack because of high egg prices: Axios
3 Min Read
Easter eggflation continues for the third year, with nearly 49% of consumers changing holiday traditions due to rising egg prices.
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A vendor arranges hand-decorated Easter eggs, on Orthodox Good Friday at a green market in Belgrade, Serbia, on April 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
For the third consecutive year, Easter eggflation continues in the US, driven by the ongoing bird flu outbreak, leading to higher prices that are altering traditional holiday practices.
Nearly half (49%) of consumers in the US say egg prices are affecting how they celebrate Easter, according to a Ziff Davis shopping survey of 1,144 participants. The average wholesale price of a dozen eggs reached $3.13 on Friday, a slight increase from $3.08 on April 11, as per US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data.
This marks a significant drop from the February 21 national average of $8.15 per dozen. Retail prices, which usually follow wholesale trends, are starting to decline, with larger price reductions expected after the holiday.
The USDA report notes that demand for shell eggs has risen leading up to Easter Sunday, though it is driven more by tradition than price considerations. Easter, historically the second-highest demand period for eggs, is only surpassed by the winter holidays, according to Brian Moscogiuri, a global trade strategist at Eggs Unlimited.
On March 11, Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins warned that egg prices during the Easter season are typically the highest and may increase slightly again.
This year, however, major retailers have opted out of their usual holiday egg promotions due to the recent recovery in egg supplies, the USDA report noted.
'Potato eggs'
In response to record-high egg prices in 2023, a creative and budget-friendly Easter alternative has emerged: painting potatoes instead of eggs.
Potatoes USA, the national marketing and promotion board for US growers and importers, is encouraging families to embrace this new tradition, offering a how-to guide for decorating potatoes.
"Kids of all ages love that potatoes offer an easy, fun, and affordable way to get creative," said Kayla Vogel, senior global marketing manager at Potatoes USA. She added that decorating potatoes for Easter "just made sense."
The organization also emphasized that decorated potatoes, when adorned with safe-for-consumption materials, can be enjoyed as a tasty treat once the artwork is complete.
On a related note, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated Thursday that the full effect of recent US trade tariffs on Eurozone inflation remains uncertain and will only be understood over time.
“The net impact on inflation will only become clear, or clearer... over the course of time,” Lagarde said during a press conference at the ECB headquarters. “There are diverging views... we have a lot of uncertainties still today.”
Lagarde’s remarks come as markets continue to assess the broader consequences of protectionist measures implemented by Trump, which include tariffs affecting European exports. Analysts have expressed concern about potential ripple effects across global supply chains, with inflationary pressures in the Eurozone remaining a key concern for policymakers.
