We’re sure you’ve heard that the U.S. egg market is currently experiencing a scramble of challenges:​

• Price Volatility: Egg prices have been on a rollercoaster, with wholesale prices peaking at $8.17 per dozen in early March 2025 before dropping to $3.45 per dozen by mid-March. ​
• Avian Flu Outbreaks: The feathered culprit behind these fluctuations is the avian flu, which has led to the culling of millions of egg-laying hens, significantly disrupting supply.
• Supply Chain Disruptions: To fill the void left by our fallen fowl, the U.S. has nearly doubled egg imports from Brazil. ​
• Changing Consumer Behavior: In response to soaring egg prices, some consumers are flocking to raise their own backyard chickens, hoping to hatch a more affordable solution. ​

For business, economics, and other interested students, faculty, and researchers, these developments offer a veritable pecking ground for study in supply chain management, international trade, and consumer behavior. Understanding these dynamics is no yolk—it’s essential for cracking the complexities of today’s market challenges.

How ZSR’s Resources Can Support Commodity Market Research

If you’re curious about the current egg situation, and want to learn more, ZSR provides valuable resources for researching commodities like eggs.

For instance, you can take a deep dive into one of our go-to industry analysis databases, IBISWorld. There, you will find industry reports (e.g., Poultry and Egg Production in the U.S.) as well as details on external economic factors influencing prices and supply-demand dynamics.

A great next step would be digging into one of our in-depth market analysis databases, Mintel, to learn more about consumer insights on egg purchasing behavior and preferences, as well as what trends are influencing consumer consumption (organic eggs, plant-based alternatives, etc.).

From here, try out Statista, where you’ll find statistical insights in easy to digest formats, such as graphs, on egg prices, production volumes, and consumption patterns.

Lastly, round out your research by reviewing news, industry insights via trade publications and even read academic articles in either Nexis Uni, ABI/INFORM, or directly via the newspapers we have institutional access to (such as the NYT, Financial Times, WSJ, The Economist, The American Business Journals, and more). This will ensure that you’re reviewing coverage of recent events, expert commentary, and industry developments. You can also find real-world case studies or company-specific impacts (e.g., major producers like Cal-Maine Foods) in these resources. Some search terms could include; market impacts of avian flu, commodity price modeling, consumer economics, or agribusiness management.

By exploring these resources, one can really see that ZSR is a gateway to comprehensive, credible, and relevant industry and market research as it relates to commodity drama.

If you have questions about the research process, navigating these specialized resources to investigate commodity markets, we invite you to consult with our business librarians, Summer Krstevska (krstevs@wfu.edu) and Morgan Ritchie-Baum (ritchiem@wfu.edu).