Egg Prices Are Up Again—Because They Know You’ll Pay

You ever notice how capitalism keeps finding new ways to rob you? No, seriously. If it’s not gas, it’s rent. If it’s not rent, it’s groceries. And if it’s groceries—oh boy, is it groceries. Lately, the grocery store has felt less like a place to buy food and more like a financial endurance test. And nothing captures that better than what’s been happening with eggs.

For decades, eggs were a staple. Cheap, nutritious, and so versatile that even people who can't cook can make something with them. But now? Now, eggs are basically a luxury item. At Costco—yes, Costco, the place that sells mayonnaise in bathtubs—the egg shelves are going empty​. People are panic-buying like it’s 2020 all over again, except instead of toilet paper, they’re hoarding 24-count cartons like they’re gold bullion.

And when you ask the industry why, they give you the usual corporate excuses: “supply chain issues,” “avian flu outbreaks,” “unprecedented demand.” But here’s the thing—these are the same excuses they’ve been using for years. It’s almost like a magician pulling the same rabbit out of a hat and hoping you won’t notice.

Back in the 2000s, major egg suppliers were caught red-handed in a price-fixing scheme. Companies like Cal-Maine Foods, United Egg Producers, and Rose Acre Farms were found guilty of intentionally reducing supply to inflate prices​. How? By killing chickens early, exporting eggs overseas, and just straight-up limiting production. And if that sounds familiar, congratulations—you understand how corporate crime works.

So, let’s be clear: this isn’t some once-in-a-lifetime crisis. It’s a business model. A federal jury found these companies guilty, and they were forced to pay over $53 million in damages. But here’s the real kicker—none of them admitted wrongdoing. They just shrugged, paid the fine, and went right back to business. Because when you’re rich enough, getting caught isn’t a punishment. It’s just an expense.

Fast forward to today, and it’s happening all over again. The egg industry is blaming inflation, bird flu, and high demand, but somehow, these same companies are raking in record profits. Cal-Maine Foods alone reported a 600% increase in net income. Let me repeat that: the company claiming supply chain issues and disease outbreaks made six times more money while you were paying $8 for a carton of eggs.

Meanwhile, the government isn’t exactly rushing to stop them. In fact, they’re making things worse. Trump recently imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico—two of the largest suppliers of agricultural products to the U.S. Now, I’m no economist, but if food prices are already sky-high, maybe don’t increase the cost of importing food? That’s like realizing your house is on fire and thinking, ‘You know what this needs? A flamethrower.’

And let’s not pretend the government is going to start cracking down on Big Agriculture. The food industry is too deeply tied to politics, and lawmakers—Democrats and Republicans alike—know where their bread is buttered. Or in this case, where their eggs are laid.

So where does that leave you? If you’re not ready to build a backyard chicken coop and defend it like a Mad Max warlord, you’re stuck paying whatever price these companies decide. But the worst part is, they know you have no choice. You need eggs. You need food. And they’ll push the limits as far as they can before you break.

The only way this changes is if people actually start paying attention. Call it price-fixing, collusion, corporate greed—whatever makes it click. But don’t call it an accident. The next time you’re at the grocery store wondering why a carton of eggs costs as much as your streaming subscriptions combined, just remember: the only thing they’re scrambling is you.