An investigation into egg prices
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An investigation into egg prices
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Re: An investigation into egg prices
#2Generally 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 heavily constrained to the Ohio (44%) / Illinois (22%) area.
[1] https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/...
Re: An investigation into egg prices
#3Alas! I thoroughly enjoyed Kevin Hassett's Face the Nation comedy skit "Perimeter of Dead Chickens".
I guess I should have known that it was a misdirect...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kevin-hassett-face-the-nation-t...
Re: An investigation into egg prices
#4The article had me at "European Chicken Monopoly In Control of US Egg Market." The rest is interesting, but fairly predictable in outcome. Normally competition will drive prices down when margins are good. In this case, the monopoly breaks that cycle and is like ... "Mmm, I like these margins, thanks."
Re: An investigation into egg prices
#5[flagged]
Re: An investigation into egg prices
#6The article had me at "European Chicken Monopoly In Control of US Egg Market." The rest is interesting, but fairly predictable in outcome. Normally competition will drive prices down when margins are good. In this case, the monopoly breaks that cycle and is like ... "Mmm, I like these margins, thanks."
p.s. It also explains why at my local Pacific Northwest family owned market, there were plenty of $4.99 and $6.99 free range eggs per dozen for sale -- I believe this small chain prefers local suppliers.
Re: An investigation into egg prices
#7Egg 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.
Re: An investigation into egg prices
#8Harris 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.
Re: An investigation into egg prices
#9I bet Agri Stats is involved to some degree with price fixing above the baseline of supply intersecting demand.
Re: An investigation into egg prices
#10Generally 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.