Egg prices are up 310% since 2005. But it’s not the only staple with soaring prices

Egg prices have got a lot of attention in recent months as avian flu made this staple a luxury for US households. But the trend of food inflation in the US is a longstanding one.

Since January 2005, egg prices have grown 310%, from $1.21 a dozen to nearly $5 a dozen, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But it’s not the only household item to see a dramatic rise. Beef prices increased 125% and electricity prices have doubled. Inflation doesn’t happen consistently across all household items in part because the costs of production vary so much – producing a pound of oranges for supermarket shelves (about two medium-sized fruits) requires different amounts of water, labor and fertilizer than, say, a pound of milk (about 2 cups).