- Egg prices are at record highs as US supply issues worsen.
- Grocery retailers, including some Costco and Trader Joe’s locations, are limiting egg purchases.
- More than half of shoppers in a recent survey said they’ve seen shortages or out-of-stock notices for eggs.
This might not be the week to try your hand at making a soufflé.
Some grocery retailers are now limiting shoppers’ egg purchases as US supply challenges push egg prices to record highs.
Business Insider saw signs at stores including a Costco in New Jersey and a Trader Joe’s in New York informing shoppers of limits on the number of eggs shoppers could buy, with both citing supply issues.
“Due to ongoing supply issues, we kindly ask that you limit your purchase to one dozen eggs. Thank you for understanding!” the sign in front of the Trader Joe’s location said.
The Costco location limited shoppers to 3 egg cartons.
Natalie Musumeci/BI (Trader Joe’s); Spriha Strivastava/BI (Costco)
More examples have been posted by US shoppers on social media.
A spokesperson for Walmart told BI that the retail giant hasn’t instituted a national limit on eggs, except for the 60-count package, which is now limited to two per transaction. Walmart sells one in five eggs sold in the US, according to market research firm Numerator.
More than half of shoppers surveyed by Numerator said they’ve seen shortages or out-of-stocks for eggs at stores across the US.
The shortages were most pronounced in cities and in the Western US, with BJ’s, Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Publix among the most affected brands, according to Numerator.
More than 70% of shoppers told Numerator that egg prices are “somewhat or very expensive” in their area.
The new policies come after numerous instances of shoppers buying up cartloads of eggs, apparently in response to ongoing bird flu outbreak that has contributed to lower supply of eggs.
Several videos have gone viral showing Costco shoppers clearing a pallet of eggs within minutes, and BI last week observed one Target shopper purchase a cart full of approximately 30 dozen eggs and nothing else.
If you are an egg shopper who wants to share your perspective, please contact Dominick via email or text/call/Signal at 646.768.4750.
