If you've been to the grocery store lately, you've likely noticed the price for eggs has not only gone up, but they're not always easy to find.

Amid the ongoing outbreak of bird flu, which has affected millions of egg-laying hens, prices for eggs have skyrocketed across the United States.

Some markets in the Bay Area report empty shelves, while others are rationing purchases to ensure eggs remain available to more customers.

The shortfall has sent egg prices everywhere rocketing in a trend that has accelerated during the holidays. At Pete’s, co-owner Lindsay Timpson said the restaurant paid $43 for a case of eggs a year ago. As of Monday, they were paying $128. In a six-day stretch in December, prices rose 35%.

Looking ahead, the USDA projects egg production will rise by about 3% in 2025 compared to 2024, easing prices. The average price next year is expected to drop to $2.30 per dozen, with first-quarter prices averaging $2.95 per dozen.

Egg prices are soaring, breaking new records as the bird flu outbreak grows. Why it matters: No food item has been as much of an inflation poster child like eggs, and their prices often give a clue about the economic environment.

Bird flu continues to play a part in higher egg prices in California. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a Dec. 27 report, said a dozen large shell eggs in the state rose to $8.97. "Demand for shell eggs posted a slight rise into the last two weeks of the year,