Avian flu driving up the cost of eggs; shoppers weigh financial options at the register

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Consumer inflation has decreased since November, dropping to 7.1%, but food inflation continues to climb, and the prices of groceries are skyrocketing.

The main item seeing a huge price increase: eggs.

Poultry experts are citing avian influenza as a main source for the price surge.

"In years past, we've had these outbreaks of influenza and then they've been gone, that doesn't seem to be the case this time," said Ron Kean, University of Wisconsin poultry expert.

Kean said the nation is in a waiting period as to when shoppers can potentially see a decline in prices centered around eggs.

"It's kind of a slow process to replace them, the cleaning and disinfection, but then there's not just a flock of chickens waiting out there, you have to kind of slowly rebuild with baby chicks and grow them up," said Kean.

The avian flu has killed nearly 40-million hens out of a national flock of 300-million hens, driving the cost of eggs up among other factors like the cost of labor.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food prices in the year 2023 are predicted to increase between 3.5% and 4.5%.