Eggs are displayed on the market in a Manhattan grocery retailer in New York Metropolis on Feb. 25, 2025.
Spencer Platt | Getty Pictures
The U.S. Justice Division has opened an investigation into potential antitrust points associated to the surging value of eggs, The Wall Avenue Journal reported Friday, citing folks acquainted with the matter.
The investigation, which is in its early phases, features a have a look at whether or not giant egg producers have labored collectively to lift costs or scale back provide, the report stated. The Capitol Discussion board, an antitrust commerce publication, earlier reported on March 6 that the DOJ had launched an investigation into the business.
The information comes as the worth of eggs has soared, main some eating places to announce menu adjustments and stories of grocery shops with empty cabinets. For instance, Denny’s introduced final month that it was passing alongside rising egg prices to prospects within the type of a surcharge.
Within the newest client value index report, Bureau of Labor Statistics knowledge confirmed the worth of eggs up 53% yr over yr. On a seasonally adjusted foundation, the price of eggs rose 15.2% simply between December and January. This marked the biggest enhance within the eggs index since June 2015.
The worth will increase seem like not less than partially attributable to an outbreak of avian flu that has led egg producers to cull their populations. Nonetheless, advocacy group Farm Motion despatched a letter final month to the DOJ and Federal Commerce Fee, calling for an investigation into different causes.
CNBC has not independently confirmed that this investigation is ongoing. The Justice Division didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for remark.
