Life Talk

Why are eggs always the poster child for grocery price swings?

Reading the GONOM post on NPR's five fluctuating grocery items, eggs were on the list again. Every time there's a story about food prices, there's a photo of an egg carton.

I get some of the reasons in general terms. Eggs are a single product with a supply that can be hit hard and fast, for example by disease in laying flocks, and hens can't be replaced overnight. Demand barely changes because people eat eggs regardless. That combination makes the price jumpy.

But I wonder if there's also a media reason. Eggs are cheap, universal and easy to photograph. Everyone knows roughly what a dozen costs. Is that why they get used as the symbol, even when other items are moving more? Curious what people think, and which item plays this role in your country.