Colorado’s egg shortage raises prices, leaves grocery stores bare

Colorado shoppers who have checked out more money on eggs in recent months may have something to get egg-cited about.

What’s up: Expensive eggs are starting to pull back from December’s record highs, albeit slowly, writes Axios’ Kelly Tyko.

• The nationwide cooldown comes after the price of a carton rose 49% in November, reaching an average of $3.59 a dozen, compared with a year earlier, according to the Consumer Price Index.
• Aside from inflation and consumer demand, costs have also been driven up by the deadly bird flu outbreak — the worst in U.S. history — that has killed more than 6 million birds in Colorado, including eight commercial flocks, per the USDA.

Driving the news: The egg shortage coincides with a new state law requiring locally raised chickens to be cage-free if their eggs are sold in grocery stores, which has also disrupted the supply chain.

• Some grocery stores, including Whole Foods, now limit egg carton purchases to two per person.
• The problem also affects restaurants in Denver. Hoja, for example, announced this month that it would no longer serve eggs in its breakfast burritos, largely due to rising prices.

? By the numbers: We hit up a number of Denver grocery stores to find the best deals on a dozen eggs. Fair warning: They may not be in stock in your neighborhood.

Walmart: $2.22

• Great value and grade A white eggs

Ideal Market: $3.29

• 365 of Whole Foods Market Outdoor Access Large Grade A White Eggs

Trader Joe’s: $3.29

• Trader Joe’s Grade A Cage Free Large Brown Eggs

Sprouts: $3.29

• Germinates cage-free large white eggs of class A

Full meal: $3.29

• 365 of Whole Foods Market Outdoor Access Large Grade A Brown Eggs

Safeway: $5.29

King Soopers: $5.49, on sale ($5.99 regular price)

• Organic Valley free-range large brown grade A eggs