Government data shows U.S. retail egg prices have declined for the first time since October. The average price for a dozen Grade A eggs fell to $5.12 in April after reaching a record $6.23 in March, according to the Consumer Price Index released on Tuesday. The average price of eggs of all sizes fell 12.7%, which was the steepest monthly decline since March 1984. Still, U.S. egg prices remain near record highs as a persistent outbreak of bird flu continues to wipe out egg-laying hens. April's store price was 79% higher than a year earlier, when the retail price averaged $2.86 per dozen.

WEST ORANGE, N.J. — Along the long road from American icon to endangered species and back again, the bald eagle — the national bird of the Uni…

Egg prices again reached a record high in February, as the bird flu continues to run rampant and Easter and Passover approach. The latest monthly Consumer Price Index showed a dozen Grade A eggs cost an average of $5.90 in U.S. cities in February, up 10.4% from a year ago. That eclipsed January's record-high price of $4.95. If prices remain high, it will be third year in a row consumers have faced sticker shock ahead of Easter on April 20 and Passover, which starts on the evening of April 12, both occasions in which eggs play prominent roles.

Egg producers blame the ongoing bird flu outbreak for driving prices up to record highs. But some believe giant companies are taking advantage of their market dominance to profit handsomely at the expense of egg buyers. Advocacy groups, Democratic lawmakers and a member of the Federal Trade Commission are calling for a government investigation after egg prices spiked to a record average of $4.95 per dozen this month. Most experts agree with the industry that bird flu is to blame. Millions of birds have been killed, but critics say egg supplies remain too robust to justify the higher prices.

Wildlife officials say 20 California condors in northern Arizona and southern Utah have died since March and half of the endangered birds tested positive for a strain of avian flu. They say four condors are still receiving supportive care and have shown improvement, but wildlife officials told The Arizona Republic that they're worried the recent outbreak could potentially spread to other condor populations. So far, authorities say the virus hasn't been detected in the other condor populations in California or Baja California, Mexico. It is estimates there are 116 wild condors flying over Arizona and Utah and occupying the landscape within Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, on the Kaibab Plateau and in surrounding areas.