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.

As the U.S. dairy industry confronts an outbreak of bird flu, the egg industry serves as an example of how to slow the spread of the disease but also how difficult it can be to completely eradicate the problem. In the decade since the first major bird flu outbreak, the disease has forced the slaughter of nearly 100 million chickens and turkeys. Outbreaks still occur, but their frequency has dropped dramatically since peaks several years ago in large part because of biosecurity efforts at farms and a coordinated approach between companies and agricultural officials. Some of those efforts can be repeated with dairy cows, but there are vast differences between the industries that limit what lessons can be learned.

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