Heading for Easter, the increase in egg prices is no chicken feed

A drop in production because of bird flu and the cost of feed have boosted European egg prices to unprecedented heights, figures from Dutch government statistics agency CBS have shown.

The average increase in egg prices across Europe is some 31%. Top of the list is the Czech Republic where eggs almost doubled in price in one year. In the Netherlands eggs are currently 26% more expensive than a year ago.

Eggs have shot up in price not only in Europe but worldwide. In the United States, which last year was hit by the biggest outbreak of bird flu the country has ever seen, eggs became 55.4% more expensive.

The Netherlands exports more eggs than it imports, with last year’s total reaching some €1.5 billion in value. Most of the eggs went to other European member states, particularly Germany which imported €700 million worth of Dutch eggs.

Other food stuffs also went up in price, upping the cost of a grocery shop by just over 18% compared to last year, the CBS said.