14 Apr The Price of Eggs, Eggcetera
In his address to Congress on March 4, 2025, Donald Trump said he is “fighting” to “reverse the damage” caused by inflation under the prior administration and to “make America affordable again.” This was alluding to Mr. Trump’s 2024 campaign vow that prices would begin to come down immediately upon his return to the White House. “Starting on Day One,” he claimed last year, “we will end inflation and make America affordable again, to bring down prices of all goods.”
How’s that going? Not so well, so far. Inflation persists, as evidenced by monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) reports. CPI data shows that prices were increasing at an annualized rate of 2.9 percent by the end of Joe Biden’s presidency (after having been much higher two years earlier). Since President Trump took office, the CPI has continued to rise, at a rate of 3.0 percent in January, 2.8 percent in February, and 2.4 percent in March. While the most recent month’s inflation rate is the lowest since 2021, nearly everything still is going up in price – except stocks and bonds.
In that same March 4 speech, President Trump singled out eggs as a product to illustrate his inflation argument: “Joe Biden, especially, let the price of eggs get out of control. The egg price is out of control, and we’re working hard to get it back down.”
Therefore, in this post, I also will use the much-talked-about egg prices to begin a discussion of inflation generally.
For Eggsample
During the late stages of the campaign, now-Vice President J.D. Vance went to a grocery store to be videoed blaming Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for high egg prices. Indeed, in his widely circulated video, then-Senator Vance claimed eggs had cost $1.50 a dozen when Ms. Harris and Joe Biden took office, but that they had since risen to $4. (Note: Mr. Vance was fried on social media by the many who pointed out that the video itself showed a price tag of $2.99 on the cartons behind him.)
I am not going to join the blame game by trying to pin 2021-24 egg prices on the prior administration. Nor am I going to blame even higher 2025 egg prices on the current administration. I also am not going to give credit to the Trump-Pence administration for the lower price of eggs before the Biden-Harris administration took office. All of that would be the kind of political poaching that I believe is largely false, irrelevant, and an insult to the voting public’s intelligence.
The simple truth is that egg prices have gone (sunny side?) up dramatically in recent years, as you likely know. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, American consumers now pay an average of $6 per dozen for Grade A large eggs – twice the price from September of 2024, when Mr. Vance made his video. This increase likely is caused in large part by an outbreak of the avian flu, which has killed millions of egg-laying hens, resulting in egg shortages. Markets at work, folks.
Politically, however, like they were for President Biden, egg prices now are President Trump’s problem to unscramble. To avoid blame, the Trump Administration is doing the following: (a) the Department of Agriculture announced in February that it will invest $1 billion to reduce egg prices, half being for egg farm biosecurity measures; (b) the Department of Justice is investigating price collusion in light of word that egg producers made record profits as consumer prices shot up; and (c) as mentioned above, President Trump is making sure everyone knows he inherited the price spike and is working “every day” to fix it.
We shall see if any of that helps make eggs – let alone “America” – affordable again.
Don’t Count on Prices Coming Down
While we all are awaiting the outcome of Mr. Trump’s hard-boiled work, the next time a political candidate tells you he or she will reduce the prices you pay at grocery stores, car lots, apartment rental offices, or anywhere else, you should be skeptical. Such politicians eggsaggerate their power.
At best, the politician is showing empathy – saying, “I feel your pain with the high prices and high inflation.” That’s nice; an unempathetic leader is the proverbial rotten egg. Nevertheless, the promise-making politician knows that the optimal outcome is that inflation rates (not prices) will decrease to around two percent. In that scenario, prices still would continue to increase gradually each year.
The law of gravity simply does not apply to consumer prices overall; they do not come down. And, even if they did, deflation actually would be dangerous for the American economy. Political candidates know this. Voters should, too.
Written by Quentin R. Wittrock, founder of Principle Based Politics.
Look for his periodic, principled political posts, as this blog will explore and promote the idea of principle in politics, both as to individual elected leaders and our federal government as an institution.
Principle Based Politics does not endorse or support any particular political candidate or party.
Gary Russell
Posted at 15:07h, 15 AprilAwesome use of egg puns, Quentin. Perhaps another flaw in our thinking and commentary is that it’s the Government’s responsibility to make eggs affordable again (MEAA). Why do we let our leaders get away with this? Do we even teach kids/adults about the constitution and what is outlined? It does a decent job at spelling out the job of the federal Gov’t and the 3 branches (with the rest being left to other organizations). I don’t recall seeing that it is required to bring down prices. The Federal Reserve bankers do their best on that and it’s wildly complicated. I’m reading a book now called “The Pursuit of Happiness” and the key concept is “pursuit”. So many of our left/right debates get caught up in the candidates promises to fix our lives and grant happiness. So much rhetoric that strays far outside the written intent vs. well-meaning ideas that have additional consequences (both intended an unintended). We need to remind voters of the job specification and then proceed to elections of who will do THAT job the best. The best part? It would all get simpler and “quieter”.
Quentin
Posted at 16:40h, 15 AprilWhat a revolutionary idea, Gary. Government making us happy (or failing to do so) be taken off the political table.
DKnight
Posted at 16:34h, 15 AprilAn eggsellent post. You should package this post and pass it around–truly one of your best–not kidding or being “nice”. Your points are well stated, well written and, I believe, factually accurate. You do make one false statement at the end of the post: “Political Candidates know this.” [I am not sure if most political candidates know much about policies, economics or history–but that is another topic for another post.] No presidential administration has as much influence on economic matters as the media portrays, etc. Yet, the Trump administration may create an exception with its use of tariffs and attempts to reset manufacturing and international business relations. But–at the end of the day–the cost of eggs will go up due to forces beyond the control of the presidency. Good work Whitrock.
Quentin
Posted at 16:37h, 15 AprilI am eggceedingly grateful for your comment, sir.
Gary Russell
Posted at 18:02h, 15 AprilYou guys crack me up.
Quentin
Posted at 19:02h, 15 AprilNow you are just egging us on.
Cindy
Posted at 18:38h, 15 AprilYes, let the free-market economy function without government interference or perceived government interference. Then consumers can make choices as to whether they want something enough to pay the asking price. Retail pricing will adjust accordingly over time.