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By Jasmine Laws
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Easter traditions are set to take a hit this year as Americans continue to grapple with economic strain and concerns over costly egg prices.
According to a new WalletHub survey, many consumers are planning to skip some of the holiday's traditional rituals like dyeing eggs because of high prices.
Why It Matters
While eggs have long featured in Easter festivities, their high cost is expected to disrupt traditions this year. Egg prices have surged to record levels following supply chain disruptions and avian flu outbreaks, reaching an average of $6.23 per dozen in March, according to the Bureau for Labor Statistics.
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More broadly, the survey found that 41 percent of respondents said they did not feel confident about their finances heading into spring, with some consumers citing concerns about inflation and President Donald Trump's tariffs.
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What To Know
WalletHub's 2025 Easter Survey, conducted between March 31 and April 4 on 200 respondents, found that 47 percent said they will not be painting eggs this year because of the cost.
The results also showed that 39 percent of respondents believed tariffs would affect their Easter spending, while 47 percent said the same about inflation.
Commenting on the shift, David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University, told Newsweek that while eggs are considered an "inelastic good," meaning people usually keep buying them even as prices rise, "there's evidence that even this inelastic demand has its limits."
"We've seen signs of demand softening in recent weeks as prices have surged to historic highs," he said.
A Clarify Capital survey of 1,000 Americans this year found that 61 percent reported eating fewer eggs, while 34 percent said they had stopped buying eggs altogether.
A findings also revealed that 10 percent of respondents said they had switched to alternatives such as plant-based egg substitutes or flaxseed.
According to the study, 67 percent of respondents blamed bird flu for the crisis, while 31 percent attributed the high cost of eggs to government policy and regulations.
Avian flu has played a central role in the disruption of the U.S.'s egg supplies. Since the outbreak began in 2022, more than 166 million birds, including 127 million egg-laying hens, have been affected across the country.
What People Are Saying
David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University, told *Newsweek: "*With food prices still high and household budgets stretched, many Americans are feeling the pressure. Eggs and chocolate, two staples of Easter, are significantly more expensive this year. Easter is typically a peak sales period for the egg industry, but this year we may see that boost muted. And this comes as the egg industry is recovering from bird-flu outbreaks that has hit large commercial operations in recent months."
He added: "This reflects deeper concerns about food affordability and ongoing inflation fatigue. Even though the overall pace of food inflation has slowed, the cumulative effect of price increases over the past few years is still weighing on consumers. When holiday staples and traditions like dyeing eggs or buying Easter candy start feeling like luxuries, it's a clear signal that many families are still struggling to keep up. Price sensitivity remains high, and Americans are making more deliberate choices about where and how to spend."
What Happens Next
Consumer habits may continue to shift as egg prices remain high in 2025, with a growing number of Americans stopping buying eggs or turning to alternatives.
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