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An investigation into egg prices

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Re: An investigation into egg prices

#21

Post by undersuit »

dartos wrote: post #18
ericjmorey wrote: post #8

Harris and Walz campaigned specifically on addressing the issues raised by this article. People didn't care if they even understood. We have someone that's implementing a kleptocracy instead. This is not getting solved for at least a decade, probably 50+ years before another regime change occurs.

> 50+ years before another regime change occurs. A little pessimistic, no? People thought the blue wave would never end after Obama was elected. No way to tell what the future holds.

The Democratic Party started working with disaffected GOP at the end of the election rather than their own constituents yelling for representation. They find this slide in tyranny more acceptable than fighting against it.

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#22

Post by undersuit »

almosthere wrote: post #16
pessimizer wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Harris and Walz campaigned specifically on addressing the issues raised by this article. No, they didn't. They campaigned on a vague anti-"price gouging" promise while pretending they didn't even know who Lina Khan, Johnathan Kanter and Rohit Chopra were. Harris never made it clear if any of their jobs were safe, her advisor and brother-in-law Tony West was Uber's general counsel, and Mark Cuban, a proxy for Harris…

[flagged]

Maybe I'm feeding a troll but please expound on your assertion.

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#23

Post by pests »

thegrim33 wrote: post #10
araes wrote: post #2

Generally correlates with my own view on the subject. After reading two USDA reports on the subject "Chickens and Eggs" [1] and "Egg Markets Overview" [2] it seemed like the markets are not responding to actual supply / demand issues. The losses, while large "sounding" (30 million), are not really that enormous in the context of 369 million egg laying flock, down 2% from the previous year. And most of the losses were…

The article you're commenting on states that 115 million egg-laying hens were culled, not 30 million.

I admit I have not read the article yet but I have done independent research into these stats previously a few weeks ago. I found the 30m quoted number is the monthly cull amount. I have seen many references to the 115m or similar numbers but have no idea over what time period. I had my own ~120m number come up from my calculations: The industry claims it takes 4-6 months to clean, disinfect, hatch and re-grow, and get the chickens to egg-laying age. If you take the ~30m and ~4-6m period, you end up around ~120-180m "missing" egg-laying chickens in the flock at any time assuming this replacement is taking place at expected levels.

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#24

Post by voxl »

dartos wrote: post #18
ericjmorey wrote: post #8

Harris and Walz campaigned specifically on addressing the issues raised by this article. People didn't care if they even understood. We have someone that's implementing a kleptocracy instead. This is not getting solved for at least a decade, probably 50+ years before another regime change occurs.

> 50+ years before another regime change occurs. A little pessimistic, no? People thought the blue wave would never end after Obama was elected. No way to tell what the future holds.

Trump will try a dictator power grab. This isn't even questionable seeing as he already tried to do this. The only question at this point is if everyone else in power goes along with it or they scoff like they did last time.

Seeing as how there are a lot less principled people involved, and the oligarchs enjoy the idea of personal techno-fiefdoms the odds are at least non-negligible that the USA as a democracy could end.

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#25

Post by jongjong »

It sounds like it may be the result of standard corporate business practices. Lower prices, take on debt if necessary, until smaller players cannot compete, buy them all up for cheap, then once most of the smaller competitors are out of business (bought out or bankrupt), start pumping up the prices again and use the proceeds to pay off debts. Insiders can dump stocks based on record profit valuations.

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#26

Post by Jtsummers »

pests wrote: post #23
thegrim33 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article you're commenting on states that 115 million egg-laying hens were culled, not 30 million.

I admit I have not read the article yet but I have done independent research into these stats previously a few weeks ago. I found the 30m quoted number is the monthly cull amount. I have seen many references to the 115m or similar numbers but have no idea over what time period. I had my own ~120m number come up from my calculations: The industry claims it takes 4-6 months to clean, disinfect, hatch and re-grow, and g…

The article's 115 million is over 3 years. Your 30 million monthly represents one sampling period within that same 3 year period.

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#27

Post by throwaway173738 »

undersuit wrote: post #21
dartos wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 50+ years before another regime change occurs. A little pessimistic, no? People thought the blue wave would never end after Obama was elected. No way to tell what the future holds.

The Democratic Party started working with disaffected GOP at the end of the election rather than their own constituents yelling for representation. They find this slide in tyranny more acceptable than fighting against it.

What are you talking about? If the dems keep to themselves nothing will change.

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#28

Post by undersuit »

throwaway173738 wrote: post #27
undersuit wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Democratic Party started working with disaffected GOP at the end of the election rather than their own constituents yelling for representation. They find this slide in tyranny more acceptable than fighting against it.

What are you talking about? If the dems keep to themselves nothing will change.

OK so the Dems successfully brought GOP influence into the party and beat Donald Trump in 2024.

What's that... Oh they lost in normal Democratic strongholds?

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#29

Post by lxgr »

SoftTalker wrote: post #7

Egg prices are high compared to what they used to cost but still under $1.00 for a two-egg meal. There's not a protein source that's much cheaper, I think the egg producers are exploiting a certain inelasticity of demand. People don't like the price increases but eggs are still very cheap food.

So in your view, potential monopolistic price fixing is not a concern as long as the absolute per-unit numbers are relatively low?

By that logic, we’d probably still be paying double-digit cents per minute for long distance calls. (Less than a dollar - a small price to pay to talk to your loved ones across the country!)

Re: An investigation into egg prices

#30

Post by bsder »

dm03514 wrote: post #20

First of all I think this article was put together quite well, it was succinct had a great flow and was very easy to follow. The data was laid out to support the case; overall it was great to read. Understanding a problem requires a holistic view of the larger system. An egg producer may say prices are higher Because supply is lower due to culling. Part of that statement is true. The author then zooms out to better u…

> Understanding a problem requires a holistic view of the larger system.

It does, but the result is extremely uncomfortable. And the solving it will require actions that are even more uncomfortable.

You have to come to grips with the fact that there are monopolies at every single level. There is no inventory anywhere except bottom. There is no over capacity at any level.

Consequently, supply and demand simply do not work. There is no "excess supply" to use to make extra profit by eating the extra demand. There is no upstart supplier who can absorb the extra demand. The big suppliers can ratchet up prices with zero consequences. What are you gonna do about it?

> it’s scary to me that people lack the skills, the desire or incentives to understand and objectively seek understanding of what’s happening around us especially in highly charged US political landscape.

They don't lack the skills. They have chosen to treat politics like sportsball rather than something to actively think about.

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