Egg Prices: Latest BLS Data and How to Pay Less
Egg prices have been one of the most volatile items on household grocery receipts over recent years. Understanding historical price movements helps consumers evaluate whether shelf tags at local supermarkets represent a fair deal or an inflated markup. Federal records provide an objective baseline to see where costs stand right now.
September 2026 Egg Prices: The Current Baseline
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics egg price data series APU0000708111, the average price for a dozen Grade A large eggs in U.S. cities was $2.27 in September 2026. This value reflects not seasonally adjusted retail prices across American cities. The price held steady compared to the preceding month, as the average was also $2.27 in August 2026.
Looking back earlier into the calendar year shows how prices have fluctuated over recent months. In January 2026, a dozen cost an average of $2.58. Prices subsequently dropped to $2.50 in February 2026, $2.35 in March 2026, $2.25 in April 2026, and $2.19 in May 2026. The lowest price level observed during 2026 occurred in June 2026 at $2.14, before rising slightly to $2.19 in July 2026 and leveling at $2.27 for August and September.
Tracking the Decline from the Historic Peak
Shoppers who recall extreme egg prices will find significant relief in the recent data. In the monthly series extending from January 2016 through September 2026, the single highest monthly average recorded was $6.23 in March 2025. Compared to that peak of $6.23, the September 2026 price of $2.27 represents a substantial drop.
One year prior to the latest release, in September 2025, consumers paid an average of $3.49 per dozen. Two years earlier, in September 2024, the average price was $3.82. However, today's price remains above longer-term benchmarks. Five years prior to the current figure, in September 2021, a dozen Grade A large eggs averaged $1.83. Further back, in pre-pandemic January 2020, the average was $1.46 per dozen, while the lowest monthly point in the entire dataset occurred in June 2019 at $1.20.
Annual Trends Across the Last Decade
Annual averages calculated from monthly observations show how sharply egg costs moved over recent years. Between 2016 and 2021, yearly averages consistently remained below two dollars:
- 2016: $1.68
- 2017: $1.47
- 2018: $1.74
- 2019: $1.40
- 2020: $1.51
- 2021: $1.67
Prices escalated in subsequent years, posting annual averages of $2.86 in 2022, $2.80 in 2023, and $3.17 in 2024. In 2025, the annual average reached $4.25 across eleven reported months, before receding to an average of $2.30 for the January through September period of 2026.
Key Egg Price Figures at a Glance
This quick-reference table summarizes key historical price points recorded in the official BLS average price report for large eggs.
| Time Period | Average Price per Dozen |
|---|---|
| Latest Month (September 2026) | $2.27 |
| One Year Earlier (September 2025) | $3.49 |
| Two Years Earlier (September 2024) | $3.82 |
| Five Years Earlier (September 2021) | $1.83 |
| Pre-Pandemic Baseline (January 2020) | $1.46 |
| Highest Value in Dataset (March 2025) | $6.23 |
| Lowest Value in Dataset (June 2019) | $1.20 |
Practical Strategies to Cut Your Egg Costs
While broad economic factors influence national averages, grocery shoppers can implement simple habits to ensure they avoid paying above-average retail prices:
- Compare unit pricing on different carton counts: Review our guide to Unit Pricing: The Grocery Math That Beats Most Coupons to evaluate whether standard dozen packs, smaller cartons, or bulk multi-packs deliver the lowest cost per egg at your supermarket.
- Monitor regular grocery cycles: Stores routinely rotate advertised discounts on dairy and refrigerated staples. Applying tactics from our How to Track Price Drops (and Know When to Buy) explainer helps pinpoint weekly discount patterns so you buy when inventory is marked down.
- Look beyond brand packaging: Store-brand cartons often share supplier sources with name-brand offerings but sell at a noticeable discount on the same shelf.
- Inspect before checkout: Always check cartons for cracked shells before heading to the register so you do not waste money on unusable items.
Sources
Published October 28, 2026. No affiliate links on this page. Facts come from the sources linked above; check them for updates.