As Czech egg prices crack new highs, here's where to find the best prices this Easter

Consumers across Czechia are facing sharply rising egg prices this spring, driven by a confluence of seasonal demand, global shortages, and looming changes to domestic egg production regulations. Nowhere else in the EU has the rate of increase been higher. Here's everything you need to know.

Egg prices in Czechia rose by more than 20 percent month-on-month in March, with a year-on-year increase of 44.4 percent, according to data from the Czech Statistical Office.

In practical terms, the price of a single egg has now reached CZK 6.8 on average, up from approximately CZK 4.7 a year earlier.

The surge comes at a time of traditionally heightened demand ahead of Easter, exacerbating the strain on an already tight market.

A variety of different issues are all contributing to the same problem. The primary driver behind the price spike is a global shortage of eggs, spurred by outbreaks of avian influenza. Bird flu has led to the culling of tens of millions of hens in both Europe and the U.S., slashing supply.

“Domestic egg production is not enough to satisfy the demand of Czech consumers,” said Barbora Pánková, spokeswoman for the Agrarian Chamber, noting the typical Easter uptick in demand.

Export dynamics have also worsened the situation for Czech shoppers. “Egg prices in the U.S. are significantly higher than in Europe, so it pays off for large producers to export eggs abroad,” said Tomáš Prouza, president of the Trade and Tourism Association.

Domestically, changes to farming policy are set to raise long-term production costs. The upcoming 2027 ban on cage farming in Czechia—not mirrored across the EU—is prompting concern. “Czech breeders are to switch to more expensive types of breeding on litter or in an aviary,” economist Lukáš Kovanda said, warning that prices could rise to CZK 8 per egg post-transition.

Some retailers are right now offering Easter discounts, which provide a good way to find some relief from the currently spiraling prices. Buying in bulk can also help reduce the cost per egg, and shopping at local farms may offer fresher eggs at lower prices compared to larger stores.

Price-comparison sites such as Kupi.cz and AkcniCeny.cz can help you find the best deals on egg purchases this week and beyond.

Agricultural analyst Tomáš Maier struck an optimistic tone, commenting that the country observes a seasonal increase in the price of eggs every year in the spring. This, Maier affirms, will not last: "In six months, it [the market] will be different, and these prices will definitely not remain so high. Eggs will probably no longer be sold in stores for CZK 2, as in the past, but they will go down quite significantly," he said.