ANYONE GROCERY SHOPPING LATELY CAN'T NOTICE HOW THE PRICE FOR A
DOZEN EGGS SKYROCKETING. WHAT'S CAUSING THE PRICE SURGE?
VANESSA YURKEVICH, HELLO! VANESSA WHAT IS CAUSING THE
PRICE SURGE? >> MANY AMERICANS WOULD GO TO
THE GROCERY STORE, NOT THINK ANYTHING MUCH ABOUT BUYING A
DOZEN EGGS NOT REALLY LOOKING AT PRICES'S CONSIDERED AND IS
CONSIDERED A STAPLE IN AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS.
JUST IN THE LAST YEAR A BIG PRICE INCREASE.
IT STARTED LAST YEAR ABOUT $1.25.
UNTO $1.75 NOW ITS $4 H.25 NOW BECAUSE OF THE DEADLY BIRD FLU
THAT HAPPENED LAST SPRING AND IT'S CATCHING UP TO US RIGHT
NOW. IN ALASKA DEMAND FOR CHICKENS
AND THEIR EGGS IS HEATING UP. >> ALREADY SOLD OUT EVEN BEFORE
THE EGG SHORTAGE. SELLING EVERYTHING I HAD.
>> Reporter: IF THE YOU'VE BEEN TO THE GROCERY STORE RECENTLY
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED FEWER EGGS AND HIGHER PRICES.
UP ABOUT 11% LAST MONTH ON AVERAGE FROM NOVEMBER, UP NEARLY
60% IN THE LAST YEAR. $11.49 IN NEW YORK.
$10.99 IN HAWAII. >> RIDICULOUS.
>> Reporter: THE HIGHLY PATH GENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA OR AVIAN
FLU IS LARGELY TO BLAME. NEARLY 58 MILLION BIRDS AND
CLIMBING HAVE DIED ACROSS 47 STATES IN THE LAST YEAR.
A RESULT OF THE DEADLY VIRUS. WILD BIRDS CAN CARRY THE DISEASE
AND SPREAD IT TO DOMESTIC FLOCKS WHEN THEY MIGRATE.
>> ONE WILD BIRD COMING INTO THEIR CHICKEN RUN AND THE NEXT
THING YOU KNOW, 10 BIRDS, 20 BIRDS, 30 BIRDS JUST DROPPING
DEAD. >> Reporter: SOME STATES
RECOMMENDING ALL POULTRY BE MAINTAINED INDOORS.
POULTRY AND BIRD SHOWS CANCELED, STRICTLY ENFORCED.
>> THE AVIAN BIRD FLU IS SERIOUS.
>> Reporter: STRUGGLING WITH PRICES ON THEIR MAIN INGREDIENT.
THE FALL MIGRATION OF FALL BIRDS SENT AVIAN FLU CASES SPIKING
AGAIN. >> WE GO THROUGH A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF EGGS. THE LAST COUPLE OF EGGS JUMPED
AS HIGH AS 60%. >> Reporter: HOW HAVE YOU BEEN
ABLE TO ABSORB THE HIGH PRICES OF EGGS?
>> UNFORTUNATELY RAISED ALL PRICES 10%.
>> Reporter: FOR SOME INCREASE IS TOO MUCH.
A BREAKRY IN NEBRASKA CLOSES ITS DOORS THIS WEEKEND.
>> I THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR FAMILY COULD AFFORD TO PAY FOR A
COOKIE. I TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
WE CAN'T CHARGE $5 A COOKIE. >> Reporter: THE RIPPLE EFFECT
GOES BEYOND RESTAURANTS AND BAKERIES.
TAKE A LOOK AROUND THE GROCERY STORE.
ITEMS THAT USE EGGS LIKE MAYONNAISE, UP 1.8% IN THE LAST
YEAR. >> FROM THE FLU TO THE INCREASES
IN INFLATION, ALL COMBINED TOGETHER WITH THE SHORTAGE,
PERFECT STORM. >> DEFINITELY SEEING PRICES
SHOOT UP RECENTLY. >> Reporter: DOES THE THAT STOP
YOU FROM MAKING THE PURCHASE? >> NO.
NOT AT ALL. JUST BUYING THINGS TO MAKE A
CHICKEN CUTLET AND EGGS IS THE BASIS FOR THAT TOO.
ONE OF THE WAYS THERE'S JUST NO WAY NOT TO PURCHASE THEM.
>> Reporter: GOOD NEWS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
THIS WEEK THEY SAID PRICES ARE STARTING TO FALL A LITTLE BIT,
BUT THAT SUPPLY REMAINS LIGHT TO MODERATE, AND, YOU KNOW,
HOLIDAYS, REALLY A TIME WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF DEMAND FOR
EGGS. PEOPLE WERE BAKING.
PEOPLE WERE COOKING, BUT WE'RE THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS NOW.
SO DEMAND MAY BE JUST A LITTLE BIT LOWER, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S
NOT FUN TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND SEE EGGS COSTING ABOUT
$10.99 HERE IN NEW YORK. HAWAII, SAME PRICE.
KEEP YOUR EYE OUT AND LOOK FOR THOSE CHEAPER PRICES IN YOUR EGG
AISLE. GUYS?
>> THANK YOU, VANESSA. I SENT A PHOTO TO YOU GUYS.
IN THE GROCERY STORE THE OTHER DAY.
$3.99, $4.99 WHICH IS HIGH BUT NOT AS BAD AT $11 OBVIOUSLY.
THAT'S HERE IN NEW YORK. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL COME DOWN.