Egg prices have quadrupled, chicken has doubled: the cost of US inflation in 10 items

https://www.theguardian.com/business/datablog/2025/mar/22/egg-prices-us-inflation-cost

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Egg prices are up 310% since 2005. But it’s not the only staple with soaring prices

Egg prices have got a lot of attention in recent months as avian flu made this staple a luxury for US households. But the trend of food inflation in the US is a longstanding one.

Since January 2005, egg prices have grown 310%, from $1.21 a dozen to nearly $5 a dozen, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But it’s not the only household item to see a dramatic rise. Beef prices increased 125% and electricity prices have doubled. Inflation doesn’t happen consistently across all household items in part because the costs of production vary so much – producing a pound of oranges for supermarket shelves (about two medium-sized fruits) requires different amounts of water, labor and fertilizer than, say, a pound of milk (about 2 cups).

Meanwhile, the US federal minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009 at just $7.25 an hour. That’s the price of about 19 eggs.

The headline of this article was amended on 23 March 2025. An earlier version said eggs prices had tripled since January 2005, when quadrupled was meant.