Avian Flu Outbreak In The Midwest Drives Rising Cost Of Eggs In Manhattan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- If you do the grocery shopping in your house, you have probably noticed that egg prices are going up again. It's being blamed on an outbreak of bird flu.

As CBS2's Emily Smith reported, the spike in egg prices has left consumers and restaurant owners scrambling over what to do.

As delicious as eggs may be, you may have also noticed the increase in price and people around you complaining about it.

A dozen large eggs on average costs about $2.76. That's nearly double the cost they were sold for in April and May.

The increase can be traced to the avian influenza that struck the Midwest in December. It led to the death of 49-million chickens and turkeys, and left producers scrambling.

"And the country's so big what happens on one side affects the other. It's interesting," Mike Dussman said.

You won't see an surprises at Maple Leaf Diner. One egg with home fries and toast will cost you $3.25, and that's where they say the price will stay.

"We have raised the prices before. We wanted to take a different approach," Jon Filippazzo said.

"We basically try to get discounts somewhere else on meats or fish," Debbie Filippazzo said.

The grocery store won't be as generous. In Manhattan, the price for a dozen eggs ranges from $5 to $6. For organic it goes up to $7.59.

"I don't buy them here. I buy them at the drug store. Across the street $2.99 for a large dozen of eggs," he said.

One way to get prices down is through buyer resistance which affects supply and demand, but that may be easier said than done.

For many people eggs are a staple they're just not willing to do without.

Some consumer experts believe there isn't a supply issue yet because some people are avoiding the egg aisle at the grocery store.