California consumers are facing sticker shock at the grocery store as egg prices hit an eye-watering $8.97 per dozen in December, nearly 60% higher than November's $5.68 price tag. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports, this sharp increase shows no signs of dropping as we enter 2025.

Bird flu is wreaking havoc on California farms and consequently raising the price of eggs. Prices also spiked because of the high demand during the holidays.

With the first human death from bird flu now logged in the US, health officials have their fingers crossed that it doesn't become a major public-health issue. But H5N1 is already wreaking havoc on poultry flocks and causing an egg shortage that's driving up the cost at the grocery store.