From 2.54to6.12 a dozen in the US – while Europe held the line
By Rashid Mahmood, NEW YORK / LONDON / PARIS / BERLIN / OTTAWA – Before the war, an American could buy a dozen large eggs for $2.54.
Today, that same dozen costs $6.12 – a staggering 141 percent increase.
In the same period, a British shopper paid £2.40 for ten eggs before the war. Today, the price remains unchanged.
A German paid €2.39 for ten eggs. No increase.
A French shopper paid €2.85 per dozen. Today, €2.95 – a 3.5 percent rise.
And Canada? Before the war, a dozen standard eggs cost **3.97Canadian∗∗(about2.86 USD). Today, they cost **3.93 Canadian∗∗(2.84 USD). They actually went down – by five cents.
One conflict. Two very different breakfast tables.
Here is why.
🥚 The Egg Index: Before War vs. Today (in USD)
| Country | Pre-War Price (per dozen) | Current Price (per dozen) | Change | Rank Globally |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $2.54 | $6.12 | ▲ +141% | #16 most expensive |
| United Kingdom | $3.14* | $3.14* | No change | #11 most expensive |
| France | $3.33 | $3.45 | ▲ +3.5% | #20 most expensive |
| Germany | $3.20* | $3.20* | No change | #15 most expensive |
| Canada | $2.86 | $2.84 | ▼ -0.7% | #41 most expensive |
*Note: UK and Germany prices are for 10 eggs, converted to dozen equivalents for comparison. Pre-war prices from 2024; current prices from January-April 2026. Sources: Global Product Prices, Daily Hive *
The contrast could not be clearer.
America’s egg aisle was hit by a perfect storm: an ongoing avian influenza outbreak that culled millions of laying hens, combined with the Iran war’s shock to energy and feed costs .
Europe, by contrast, weathered the storm. British, German, and French egg producers faced the same global energy shock – but different supply chains, different feed sources, and different regulatory environments kept prices stable .
Canada, uniquely, saw prices drop slightly – from 3.97CADto3.93 CAD per dozen – even as its southern neighbor suffered historic inflation .
⛽ Petrol Prices: The War’s Most Direct Hit
If eggs show the uneven impact of the war, petrol shows the immediate, universal shock.
Here is what drivers in Western nations paid before the war (late February 2026) versus what they pay now (late April 2026):
| Country | Petrol Price Pre-War (USD/L) | Petrol Price Current (USD/L) | Change | Diesel Current (USD/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.87 | $1.13 | ▲ +30% | ~$1.26 |
| United Kingdom | $1.76 | $1.93 | ▲ +9.5% | ~$1.41 |
| France | $1.93 | $2.26 | ▲ +17% | ~$2.44 |
| Germany | $2.06 | $2.40 | ▲ +16.5% | ~$2.32 |
| Canada | $1.16 | $1.45 | ▲ +25% | ~$1.57 |
*Sources: Mint/globalpetrolprices.com (as of March 23, 2026) , Countryeconomy (as of April 20, 2026) *
The numbers tell a brutal story.
Americans saw the second-steepest increase among Western nations – 30 percent – but still pay the lowest absolute price at $1.13 per gallon-equivalent. That is because the US taxes fuel far less than Europe .
Canadians were hit nearly as hard, with a 25 percent spike to **1.45perlitre∗∗–about5.50 per gallon .
Britons saw the smallest increase among major Western economies – just 9.5 percent – but already paid high prices due to UK fuel taxes. Diesel, however, is a different story. British diesel prices have actually fallen slightly since the war began, down about 0.2 percent monthly as of April 20 .
French and German drivers now pay among the highest pump prices in the world – 2.26and2.26and2.40 per litre, respectively – increases of 17 percent and 16.5 percent since February .
🇺🇸 United States: The Breakfast Shock
No country on this list saw a more dramatic rise in egg prices than the United States.
Before the war, a dozen large eggs cost 2.54∗∗on average Today, the same dozen costs∗∗2.54∗∗ on average Today, the same dozen costs∗∗6.12 – a 141 percent increase .
What happened?
Three factors collided:
First, an avian influenza outbreak has been decimating American laying flocks since 2022. Millions of hens have been culled, reducing supply at the worst possible moment .
Second, the Iran war sent feed prices soaring. Corn and soy – the primary ingredients in chicken feed – are energy-intensive to produce and transport. With diesel up 35 percent in a single month, farmers faced impossible choices .
Third, supply chains fractured. Raspberries, as The Boston Globe reported, doubled in wholesale price because they depend on refrigerated diesel trucks . Eggs are no different. Every step of production – from heating hen houses to washing and refrigerating eggs – requires energy.
The result is the 16th most expensive egg market in the world, according to January 2026 data . Only Switzerland ($8.08/dozen), Iceland, Norway, and a handful of others charge more.
At the pump, Americans felt the war almost immediately. Petrol jumped from 0.87perlitrepre−warto0.87perlitrepre−warto1.13 by March 23 – a 30 percent increase . By April 20, that price had climbed further, with the US average for Euro-Super 95 reaching the equivalent of $0.98 per litre before taxes .
But here is the paradox: Americans still pay less for fuel than almost any other wealthy nation. European prices are double or triple US rates due to taxes .
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: The Resilient Shopper
Across the Atlantic, the British breakfast table tells a different story.
Egg prices have not changed. A tray of ten large eggs cost £2.40 before the war – and still costs £2.40 today .
Why?
British egg producers operate on a different model. The UK has a high proportion of free-range and barn-raised hens, which are less susceptible to the worst impacts of avian influenza because they are not packed into factory-style confinement . When the US lost millions of hens to culling, UK flocks remained largely intact.
Additionally, British farmers source feed from diverse markets, reducing exposure to any single supply chain shock.
But food inflation is coming.
The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) warned in March that UK households could face food inflation above 8 percent by June 2026 if the Iran war persists . That would add more than £150 to the average household’s annual grocery bill .
Basic items like bread, dairy, and meat are expected to be hit hardest . A consumer expert told the Daily Express that families could see “noticeable rises in the cost of a basic weekly shop” .
At the pump, Britons saw a relatively modest increase – 9.5 percent – from 1.76to1.93 per litre by late March . Diesel actually fell slightly by April 20, with prices dropping 0.2 percent month-over-month .
But “modest” is relative. UK petrol prices remain among the highest in the world due to heavy taxation, and any further spike will hit households already stretched thin. Around a quarter of UK adults have less than £100 in savings .
🇫🇷 France: The European Middle Ground
France sits between the US and UK in both egg and fuel price trends.
Eggs rose modestly – from €2.85 per dozen pre-war to €2.95 today – a 3.5 percent increase . That makes France the 20th most expensive egg market globally at $4.28 per dozen .
Fuel, however, tells a sharper story.
French petrol jumped 17.1 percent from 1.93to2.26 per litre by late March . By mid-April, prices had climbed further, with Super 95 reaching €2.023 per litre (about $2.20) including taxes .
Diesel is even more expensive. France now pays €2.244 per litre for diesel (about $2.44) – a 42.5 percent annual increase . That is the highest diesel price among major Western economies.
Why the divergence between eggs and fuel?
France has a highly regulated agricultural sector that includes price stabilization mechanisms and strategic grain reserves. These buffers absorbed some of the war’s initial shock. But fuel markets are global, and France cannot shield drivers from international crude prices.
The result is a strange paradox: French breakfasts are only slightly more expensive than before the war. But French commutes – and the cost of delivering every single good to the supermarket – have soared.
🇩🇪 Germany: Stability at a Price
Germany’s story mirrors France’s – with one key difference.
Egg prices in Germany have not increased at all . A tray of ten eggs still costs €2.39, just as it did before the war.
Like the UK, Germany relies on a mix of production systems that proved resilient to the avian influenza pressures that decimated US flocks.
Yet German petrol prices tell a different story. At $2.40 per litre (about €2.11), Germany now pays the highest pump price among these five nations . That is a 16.7 percent increase since the war began .
Diesel is similarly punishing, at €2.133 per litre (about $2.32) – a 35.9 percent annual increase .
Why such high fuel costs?
Germany has among the highest fuel taxes in Europe, and the war’s disruption of global crude supplies hit an already-expensive market hard. Additionally, Germany’s industrial economy is energy-intensive, and the government has been reluctant to cut fuel taxes for fear of encouraging consumption.
For German households, the calculation is brutal: breakfast costs the same as before the war, but everything else – from driving to work to heating the home – costs significantly more.
🇨🇦 Canada: The Odd One Out
Canada is the outlier in every category.
Eggs went down in price – from 3.97CADperdozento3.93 CAD – a five-cent drop . In USD terms, that is a decline from 2.86to2.84.
Canada is now the 41st most expensive egg market in the world, cheaper than the US, UK, France, and Germany .
What explains this?
Canada operates a supply management system for eggs – a controversial policy that limits production to match demand and sets farm-gate prices through a national agency. Critics say it keeps prices artificially high in normal times. But in a crisis, supply management acts as a shock absorber. When US prices spiked 141 percent, Canadian prices barely moved.
Fuel, however, is a different story. Canadian petrol jumped 25.2 percent from 1.16to1.45 per litre by late March . That is nearly as steep as the US increase, though Canada still pays less than Europe.
The war’s impact on Canadian grocery bills may not be over. The Department of Agriculture initially projected only moderate food inflation for 2026, but its March revised report warned that food bills could climb as much as 6.1 percent this year .
📊 The Complete Table: Everything in USD
| Country | Eggs (dozen) Pre-War | Eggs (dozen) Today | Change | Petrol/L Pre-War | Petrol/L Today | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $2.54 | $6.12 | ▲ +141% | $0.87 | $1.13 | ▲ +30% |
| United Kingdom | ~$3.14 | ~$3.14 | 0% | $1.76 | $1.93 | ▲ +9.5% |
| France | $3.33 | $3.45 | ▲ +3.5% | $1.93 | $2.26 | ▲ +17% |
| Germany | ~$3.20 | ~$3.20 | 0% | $2.06 | $2.40 | ▲ +16.5% |
| Canada | $2.86 | $2.84 | ▼ -0.7% | $1.16 | $1.45 | ▲ +25% |
📈 Why the Disparity? Three Key Factors
1. Avian Influenza Hit the US Hardest
The United States has been battling a record avian flu outbreak since 2022. Unlike Europe, where outbreaks have been more contained, US producers were forced to cull millions of hens in 2025 alone. The war’s energy shock compounded an already fragile supply chain .
2. Fuel Taxes Create Different Baselines
European petrol prices were already high before the war due to environmental taxes. A 17 percent increase in France hurts, but the baseline was $1.93 – already double the US pre-war price. Americans felt the percentage increase more acutely, even though their absolute price remains lower .
3. Supply Chains Vary Dramatically
Canada’s supply management system, the UK’s free-range dominance, and Germany’s cooperative agricultural networks all produced different outcomes. The US, with its highly centralized, industrial egg production, proved most vulnerable to systemic shocks .
🔮 What Comes Next?
The war is not over. A naval blockade of Iran, imposed on April 13, continues to strangle global shipping lanes.
The US Department of Agriculture now warns that food bills could climb as much as 6.1 percent in 2026 – up from a pre-war projection of just 3 percent .
In the UK, the IGD warns that food inflation could “briefly reach over 8 percent by June 2026” – more than double the current rate .
And everywhere, fuel prices remain volatile. The global average for petrol stood at $1.41 per litre as of March 23, up sharply from pre-war levels . Any new escalation could push prices higher.
🍳 The Bottom Line
Before the war, breakfast looked similar on both sides of the Atlantic. Eggs were cheap. Petrol was manageable. The weekly shop was a routine expense.
Today, the divide is stark:
- The United States – Eggs up 141 percent. Fuel up 30 percent. A breakfast shock of historic proportions.
- The United Kingdom – Eggs unchanged. Fuel up 9.5 percent. Resilient for now – but warnings of 8 percent food inflation loom.
- France – Eggs up 3.5 percent. Fuel up 17 percent. The fuel spike is driving everything else.
- Germany – Eggs unchanged. Fuel up 16.5 percent. The highest pump prices in the group.
- Canada – Eggs down 0.7 percent. Fuel up 25 percent. The supply management miracle – at the pump’s expense.
As one shopper at an Atlanta Whole Foods told The Boston Globe, eyeing $8 raspberries: “That price is ridiculous.”
For Americans, the same could be said of eggs. For Europeans, the sting is at the pump. For Canadians, a bit of both.
But one thing is clear: the Iran war has redrawn the map of what breakfast costs. And the lines are drawn not just by conflict – but by policy, poultry, and petrol.
*Exchange rate note: All USD conversions are approximate, based on exchange rates from the time of data collection. Canadian egg prices converted from CAD at 1 USD = 1.38 CAD. UK egg prices converted from GBP at 1 USD = 0.78 GBP. Eurozone prices converted at 1 USD = 0.92 EUR. Pre-war data reflects 2024-early 2026 prices; current data reflects January-April 2026 prices.*
