Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, prices for necessities have only increased tremendously, with gas prices experiencing a 90% rise and grocery prices going through a 35% rise in Ukraine, compared to before the war between the two countries broke out. 

The war breaking out has increased inflation globally, especially in the United States, considering Ukraine and Russia are critical suppliers of crops like corn, oil and wheat as well as other necessities like fuel for our gas cars. 

Today, the country is now battling with a plethora of inflation-influencing aspects including the aftermath of COVID-19, the Russia and Ukraine war, and even the spread of the fatal avian flu among chickens. 

In the United States, we are seeing the highest inflation rate we have reached in years at 8.5%, but this has been going on for a while to the point that seeing a higher price on something you got before for less, has become the norm. 

Although, no one has expected to see a sixty count of eggs being sold for $30 in their weekly grocery shopping, making each individual egg run for $2 (if you want to be technical). 

Avian flu (or bird flu) is a virus that is commonly caught in birds but can be given to humans and is similar to the flu we see around certain times of the year but more fatal for birds. Recently chickens in farms around America have been made victims of the flu. The first few with the bird flu were found in February of 2022, but since then chicken farms in more than 40 states have reported a multitude of chickens getting the virus; more than 50 million chickens have died due to this outbreak of this highly transmittable flu.

With so many laying chickens dying, the ones who solely produce eggs, there has been no choice but to increase prices dramatically in order for farms to get their profit. However, this has placed a struggle on Americans, especially families that can’t afford to “splurge” just on eggs.

“My mom complains a lot about it,” Senior Emily Melendez said. “My mom goes, like, an hour away to go get eggs that are like seventeen bucks for thirty of them.”

Another senior and President of Canyon Hill’s Culinary Club, Sophia Gogue stated, “It just makes it tough to do the things we do for our club, and a lot of people stop participating [in the club] because of the egg shortage.” 

COVID-19, the war, and now an egg shortage are breaking Americans’ wallets with the tremendous inflation we have been going through, but now we can see, that was only the start of what is worse to come.