If you had been planning to dye eggs this Easter, effectively, possibly go for adorning some cookies as an alternative. That’s as a result of, after a yr of climbing costs, the price of eggs remains to be frustratingly excessive.
The common value of a dozen giant, Grade A eggs in February was $4.21, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ shopper value index, revealed March 14. That’s up — OK, approach, approach up — from $2.01 a yr earlier.
Eggs aren’t alone relating to rising meals prices; you’ve in all probability observed that, on the entire, groceries are pricier. The index for groceries elevated 10.2% yr over yr, in accordance with the CPI report, which is a measure of the common change in costs paid by U.S. customers.
Eggs, particularly, at the moment are so costly due to a fowl flu that began in January 2022 and has led to the deaths of practically 59 million birds, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. So there’s a provide and demand subject, to say the least, and inflation hasn’t helped.
But there could also be a light-weight on the finish of the fridge: Eggs are lastly getting cheaper. While the egg index elevated 11.1% from November to December, it decreased 6.7% from January to February, in accordance with the CPI.
As for different Easter-related meals — that ham dinner might really feel a contact pricier, as its index elevated 3.3% from January to February. But, hey, costs for lettuce, dried beans, peas and lentils are down since February. Good information if you wish to go for a vegetarian menu.
If you’re feeling festive and need to shell out for costly eggs to dye, at the very least be certain they’re suitable for eating. Refrigerate hard-boiled eggs inside two hours of cooking, and use them inside one week, advises the Egg Safety Center, a company that represents business egg producers. Or simply stick to the frosted cookies.
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Laura McMullen writes for NerdWallet. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @lauraemcmullen.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”