Weekly brief

Issue archive

Every The Scramble brief: what moved in the US shell-egg market, week by week.

Aug 11, 2026

Benchmark Retreats to 91.4 Cents, Extra Large White Off 19% on the Week

The large white benchmark fell to 91.4 cents/doz, down 12.5% from 104 cents. Regional inventories are above normal across the Midwest, Northeast and South Central. Cage-free at 88.1 cents remains inverted, trading 3.3 cents below the conventional benchmark.

Aug 4, 2026

Cage-Free Large White Falls to 95 Cents, Premium Inverts to Minus 9.4 Cents

National cage-free large white loose shed 31.8% to 95.0 cents a dozen, falling 9.4 cents below the 104-cent conventional benchmark. California cage-free moved the opposite way, up 17.5% to 140 cents.

Jul 28, 2026

Large White Benchmark Hits 113 Cents, Up 30.7% on the Week

National large white benchmark reached 113 cents a dozen, up 30.7% week over week from 86.6 cents. Cage-free large white hit 139 cents. Medium whites fell sharply in both forms.

Jul 26, 2026

Benchmark Surges to 109 Cents, Up 47.6% on Tight Northwest Supply

The national large white benchmark reached 109 cents a dozen, up 47.6% on the week, as Northwest inventory fell to 32% below its five-year median; cage-free large white rose to 133 cents, widening the premium to 23.7 cents.

Jul 14, 2026

Cage-Free Premium Narrows to 0.8 Cents at 55.8-Cent Benchmark

The large white benchmark holds at 55.8 cents a dozen. The cage-free premium has compressed to just 0.8 cents above conventional, near-parity. A Utah HPAI detection and tight Northwest inventory are the key supply signals.

Jun 30, 2026

Cage-Free Large White Hits 118 Cents in California, Up 23 on the Week

California cage-free large white jumped 23 cents to 118 cents a dozen. Cage-free browns rose 28-43% nationally. Conventional benchmark holds at 26 cents. No HPAI in 60 days. Northwest inventory 28% below the 5-year USDA median.

Jun 23, 2026

Medium White Conventional Jumps 62% to 23.4 Cents on the Week

National shell-egg prices jumped sharply across most categories on the week, led by medium white conventional loose up 62.4% to 23.4 cents/doz, with Northwest inventory 40% below its five-year median and no HPAI detections in 60 days.

Jun 16, 2026

Large Brown Cage-Free Loose Jumps 43% to 20 Cents a Dozen

Large brown cage-free loose up 43% to 20.0 cents a dozen per USDA this week. The cage-free large white premium inverted to -3%, with Northwest inventory 38% below its five-year median.

Jun 9, 2026

Cage-Free Large White Falls to 28.0, Premium at 4.9 Cents

Cage-free large white loose fell 27 cents to 28.0 ¢/doz, pressing the premium to 4.9 cents (21%) over the 23.1-cent conventional benchmark. Northwest inventory 27% below its 5-year median. No HPAI in 60 days per APHIS.

Jun 2, 2026

Large White Benchmark Falls to 21.8 Cents, Down 33.6% on the Week

The national large white benchmark dropped to 21.8 cents a dozen, off 33.6% week over week, as declines of 33% or more appeared across cage-free and conventional national sizes. No HPAI detections in 60 days per APHIS. Northwest inventory i

May 26, 2026

Cage-Free Large White Falls to 28 Cents, Now Below Conventional

National cage-free large white loose fell to 28 cents/doz this week, now trading below the 32.9-cent conventional benchmark. APHIS has logged no HPAI detections in 60 days and national inventory is near its four-week average.

May 19, 2026

Large White Benchmark Jumps to 40.6 Cents, Up 63% on the Week

The national large white loose benchmark surged to 40.6 cents a dozen, up 63.1% on the week, while US shell egg inventory runs 5.6% below its trailing four-week average. No HPAI detections in 60 days per APHIS.