Yuma, Arizona (KYMA, KECY) – Like many other grocery stores, egg prices have skyrocketed in Arizona.

And they aren’t expected to get off anytime soon.

Bird flu and new state egg regulations are making this popular household food harder to come by.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, egg prices have soared by almost 50% in homes in the desert southwest and across the country.

Paul Brierley of the Yuma Desert Agricultural Center says one reason is bird flu, also known as bird flu.
“It’s carried by wild birds, but it infects poultry flocks, so I think 50 million chickens have died or been pulled from their flocks nationwide,” said Brierley.

Arizona has also adopted new egg regulations amid these high prices.
“Another reason is that Arizona has new regulations coming in two years that will require all poultry producers to keep their chickens cage-free, change barn layouts, Everything else,” Brierley said.

Yuma shoppers like Tina Sanchez are feeling the rise.
“They’ve doubled to six times, sometimes twelve times. In fact, the sprouts have the cheapest eggs I’ve found, so I come here specifically for the eggs,” says Sanchez. said.

Tina was able to find an 18-egg carton at Sprout for $4.79.

Another heavily impacted industry is restaurants.

The owner of Jector’s Burrito says buying in bulk doesn’t help.
“From $20 a box to $90 in two years. Each box contains 180 eggs or 25 dozen eggs,” said Alonzo Delavega.

I told you that I have to increase the price of burritos by $1.25 starting this month.
“I think all restaurants are in the business of making money and are forced to raise their prices, and people need to understand that, because when prices go up, profits go down.

We don’t know exactly when the price of eggs will drop.