Egg Prices Soar As 10% Of Nation's Hens Wiped Out By Devastating Bird Flu
Food prices are rising across the U.S., but the latest sticker shock at the supermarket is in the eggs and poultry aisles, as the deadly bird flu wreaks havoc on the country's egg-laying hen flock.
Inflation data tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found a dozen of eggs jumped 23% in April compared with the month before to $2.52. Prices reached levels not seen since early 2016, a period that followed the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak of 2014-15, which led to a 50% increase in egg prices in the second half of 2015.
Since January, the outbreak has spread to 32 states, killing more than 37 million chickens and turkeys. Of that, 29 million egg-laying hens have died, or about 10% of the U.S.' total flock of 300 million. Bloomberg says the bird flu is "shaping up to be the worst outbreak of its kind."
"When the outbreaks first started, the jump in wholesale values was being driven primarily by demand, as there was a bit of panic and short covering going on in the marketplace. But at this point, so much production has been removed from the landscape that it's more of a supply-side issue," Karyn Rispoli, an egg market reporter at commodity research firm Urner Barry, told CBS News.
Breakfast has become the most expensive in years. It's not just eggs, orange juice and wheat prices are also soaring.
Egg prices could be headed higher as there are no indications the avian influenza spread is under control. This is just another sign that food shortages could get much worse in the second half of the year.
With a midterm election looming in the fall, and both houses of Congress about to take an extended break in August, the prospect of antitrust legislation is dimming. Policy experts deem the next three months a "jump ball" moment with the real possibility that if bills don't become laws by Labor Day, nothing will happen until a new administration in 2025.
As inflation increases, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed an $18.1 billion Inflation Relief Package May 12 that includes direct payments to state residents.
“This inflation relief package will help offset the higher costs that Californians are facing right now and provide support to those still recovering from the pandemic,” Newsom said in a statement.
The following is included in the package, according to the news release:
$11.5 billion in tax refunds, including $400 checks to every registered vehicle owner in the state, capped at two checks per individual
$2.7 billion for an emergency rental assistant for low-income tenants who sought state rental assistance prior to March 31
$1.4 billion to assist residents with past-due utility bills, including $1.2 billion dedicated to electricity bills and $200 million for water bills
$933 million for hospital and nursing home staff, including $1,500 to workers who delivered care during the COVID-19 pandemic
$750 million for free public transit for up to three months
$304 million for more affordable health coverage for middle-class families, including for families of four earning up to $166,500 annually
$439 million to halt the diesel sales tax for 12 months
$157 million to waive preschool and childcare fees for low-income families—resulting in $595 in savings per month per family
Aside from the $18.1 billion package, minimum wage is expected to increase to $15.50 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2023, according to the governor’s office.
The proposal will have to be voted upon by lawmakers before passing.
Liverpool kept alive hopes of an unprecedented series of quadruple wins in football championships this season as Konstantinos Tsimikas struck a sudden-death penalty winner to earn victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
TikTok Sued Following Death Of 10-Year-Old In Viral 'Blackout Challenge'
The family of a 10-year-old girl who allegedly participated in a viral 'TikTok' challenge in which people choke themselves until they black out has sued the Chinese-owned social media platform, Bloomberg reports.
Nylah Anderson, was found unconscious in her Philadelphia bedroom on Dec. 7 and was rushed to a pediatric intensive care unit, where she died five days later, reads a Thursday complaint filed in federal court - which we're guessing will be used to justify more regulations at some point.
According to the complaint, the dangerous stunt "was thrust in front" of Anderson when TikTok presented the viral challenge on her "for you" page.
The "algorithm determined that the deadly blackout challenge was well-tailored and likely to be of interest to 10-year-old Nylah Anderson and she died as a result," continues the complaint, which also names parent company ByteDance as a defendant.
TikTok does not comment on ongoing litigation, a company spokesperson said. In a previous statement issued in response to Anderson’s death, the company said “this disturbing challenge, which people seem to learn about from sources other than TikTok, long predates our platform.”
TikTok remains vigilant in its commitment to user safety and would remove any content related to the blackout challenge from its app, the spokesperson said, adding “our deepest sympathies go out to the family for their tragic loss.” -Bloomberg
The lawsuit alleges that at least four children have died while participating in the blackout challenge, where people choke themselves with household items such as a rope or cord until they black out for a few seconds in order to experience a euphoric rush once regaining consciousness.
"Social media giants like the TikTok defendants have seized the opportunity presented by the digital wild west to manipulate and control the behavior of vulnerable children to maximize attention dedicated to their social media platforms and thus maximize revenues and profits, all while shirking any safety responsibilities whatsoever," the lawsuit reads.
The case is Anderson v. TikTok Inc., 22-cv-01849, US District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
