# Egg Prices Spike as Collusion Alleged

> Egg prices doubled in a year as three major producers allegedly colluded to fix prices.
- Title: Egg Prices Spike as Collusion Alleged · Politico | Shortify
- Summary: Egg prices doubled in a year as three major producers allegedly colluded to fix prices. Three U.S. egg producers coordinated bids to artificially inflate…
- Keywords: egg prices, collusion, us egg producers, calmaine, hickman's egg ranch, versova, urner barry, antitrust, federal investigation, price fixing, technology, startups
- Source: Politico — https://politico.com/news/magazine/2026/10/18/egg-prices-conspiracy-affordability-issue-01100411
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: egg prices, collusion, us egg producers, calmaine, hickman's egg ranch, versova, urner barry, antitrust, federal investigation, price fixing, technology, startups
## Egg prices doubled in 2022
U.S. egg prices rose from $1.93 to $4.82 per dozen in a year.
## Economists blamed bird flu for price surge
Most experts attributed the spike to bird flu killing 43 million egg-laying hens.
## Law professor suspects collusion
Peter Carstensen said eggs are a classic example where collusion makes sense.
## Experts dismissed collusion claims
Mainstream economists called collusion theories 'cranks' looking past simple economics.
## Egg producers coordinated bids
Three major producers coordinated bids on an egg price clearinghouse to raise prices.
## Price-fixing scheme detected
U.S. Justice Department and 17 state attorneys general found evidence of collusion.
## Price spike explained by collusion
Egg prices rose 138% due to collusion rather than bird flu.
## Egg producers coordinated bids
Hickman’s Egg Ranch and Cal-Maine coordinated bids to prevent price drops.
## Price-fixing scheme intensified
Executives met weekly to bid up prices ahead of Christmas.
## Egg prices hit record
Prices reached $4.25 per dozen by December 2022 after collusion.
## Egg prices dropped suddenly
Prices fell 50 cents in a week after consumers pulled back.
## Egg producers coordinated bids
Executives pushed to 'light up northwest bids' to raise prices nationwide.
## Egg prices hit record
Prices reached $6.23 per dozen in March 2025 after Trump administration.
## Trump administration investigated
Justice Department launched antitrust probe into egg price-fixing.
## Settlement reached
Three companies agreed to $3 million fine and independent monitor for five years.
## Egg prices dropped to $2 per dozen
Prices fell to $2 per dozen after settlement as farmers struggled.
## Key takeaway

Three U.S. egg producers coordinated bids to artificially inflate prices by 138% before a settlement.