Consumers forced to shell out more cash as egg prices go cracking high

Persons seeking to purchase eggs ahead of the Christmas season are being cautioned against settling for jacked up prices for the high in- demand item.

This advice is coming from Consumer Advocate, Junior Bacchus who spoke to SEARCHLIGHT in an interview about price gouging practices in relation to eggs.

“I would tell shoppers to use discernment. If the prices are high you can choose not to buy even if you want it. It is your choice,” Bacchus said.

Eggs are one of the hot commodity items during the holiday season as people prepare baked goods and other dishes. They have been flying off supermarket shelves and market stalls as December 25 draws closer.

A check of egg prices up to Thursday, December 22 in the vegetable market revealed that prices had reached up to EC$50 for a flat of eggs, which holds 30; and EC$25 for a half-flat. Other resellers listed retail prices at EC$40 for a flat and EC$25 for a half-flat.

SEARCHLIGHT has also received unconfirmed reports that prices have reached as high as $60 for a flat. The items were in scarce supply in City supermarkets where retail prices range between EC$12 and EC$15 for one dozen.

During November and up to mid-December, eggs were being sold at EC$25 a flat. Earlier this year, egg prices were predicted to increase as a result of the supply issues affecting wheat coming out of Europe. Ukraine, one of the biggest suppliers of grain, halted shipments due to the military invasion by Russia. This caused grain prices across the globe to skyrocket and here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, poultry farmers were forced to increase the retail price of eggs from $20 in order to offset the increased costs of feed.

Bacchus said while he has not heard any direct complaints about high egg prices he is not surprised by the reports of price gouging, considering the increased demand around the holidays and shortages in supply over the last few months.

“There was definitely a decline in the production of eggs leading up to this season. That rainy period up to the middle of November…a lot of the young chicks got sick so they [farmers] lost a lot of the birds”.

Ten months after the start of the military invasion and rain exports out of Ukraine have not returned to pre-war levels. Bacchus revealed that the continued hike in prices has forced some poultry farmers out of business.

“Even though they allowed some wheat to get out of Ukraine, it is not enough to meet the demand. I know of two poultry farmers, that is out of a network of six, that have left production,” Bacchus said.

He lamented the lack of price controls on eggs and reiterated to consumers that they should exercise their right to choose whether they want to patronize resellers who are engaging in price gouging practices.