“USDA is predicting egg prices will be $12 a dozen by fall 2022.”
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In this June 15, 2021 photograph, eggs are displayed in a refrigerated section at Lambert's Rainbow Market, in Westwood, Mass. (AP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture did not predict the retail price of eggs this fall
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• The U.S. Department of Agriculture did not predict that eggs will cost $12 per dozen in fall 2022, a spokesperson said.
Social media users have yolk on their faces after making false claims about egg price predictions.
"BREAKING NEWS: ‘USDA is predicting egg prices will be $12 a dozen by Fall 2022,’" says one June 6 post on Facebook.
It was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
But the U.S. Department of Agriculture did not make that prediction, according to Jennifer Smits, director of communications for the agency’s Economic Research Service.
The Economic Research Service — tasked with anticipating trends and emerging issues in agriculture and food in the U.S. — does not publish retail egg prices, Smits said.
We also did not find any predicted retail egg prices in a review of recent USDA publications.
The USDA publishes forecasts of wholesale egg prices, as well as forecasts of changes to the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index for foods, Smits said. The May report about price indexes indicated that retail egg prices are expected to rise between 19.5% and 20.5% in 2022.
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Egg prices have also been increasing because of an ongoing outbreak of avian influenza, which has reduced the number of chickens laying eggs in the U.S., the price index report notes.
In April, the price of a dozen large Grade A eggs was $2.52, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from $1.93 in January. A 19.5% to 20.5% increase in the April retail price translates to $0.49 to $0.52, or between $3.01 and $3.04 for a carton — far below the claim of $12 per dozen eggs.
Our ruling
A Facebook post says, "BREAKING NEWS: "USDA is predicting egg prices will be $12 a dozen by Fall 2022."
USDA did not make that prediction, according to a spokeswoman. The agency does not publish retail egg prices.
As of last month, egg prices were $2.52 per dozen, and the price is expected to increase between 19.5 and 20.5% in 2022. That is well below $12 per dozen eggs.
We rate whether the USDA made such a prediction False.
Our Sources
Email interview, Jennifer Smits, director of communications, U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, June 7, 2022
Facebook post, June 6, 2022
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Graphics for Economic News Releases: Average price data (in U.S. dollars), selected items," accessed June 8, 2022
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, "Summary Findings, Food Price Outlook, 2022," last updated May 25, 2022
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U.S. Department of Agriculture did not predict the retail price of eggs this fall
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