[Text/Observer Network Wang Shichun] The United States, which has serious inflation, has recently been hit by bird flu. According to reports from Bloomberg, USA Today and other websites on April 13, an outbreak of avian influenza occurred in the United States and continued to spread in the Midwestern United States. More than 20 million birds have been infected. Bloomberg commented that this may become the history of the United States. The most serious bird flu in the world.
The epidemic has caused the price of poultry and eggs to soar to a record high, with egg prices soaring by more than 50%. In addition, the price of poultry eggs mainly produced in states such as Iowa and used for food processing has also increased. At present, the latest data shows that inflation in the United States has reached a new high in the past 40 years. With the price guarantee of poultry and egg products, the problem of high prices is bound to be worsened.
Screenshot of Bloomberg report
According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, avian influenza virus has been reported in Connecticut , Delaware , Illinois , Indiana , Kansas , Kentucky and other more than 20 states were found. As of April 11, local time, more than 27 million birds have been slaughtered due to the avian influenza epidemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said this is the worst outbreak since 2015.
Avian influenza epidemic data from the United States Department of Agriculture
The United States is the world's largest poultry meat producer and the world's second largest poultry meat exporter. The price rise caused by bird flu immediately affected the United States. Data from the United States Department of Agriculture show that since the first outbreak of bird flu this year, egg prices have soared by more than 50%. The average price of a dozen eggs has jumped to $2.60 from $1.20 in early January. Before the outbreak of bird flu, the five-year average price of a dozen eggs was about US$1.44.
The increase in egg prices was immediately transmitted to the consumer side. Suarez, the owner of a local bakery, said: "We don't like raising prices, and obviously other people don't like it either, but the environment we are in now gives us no choice. This may It will increase the price by at least 30-35% from the current level,"
local supermarket manager Joe Fasula said: "So far, this is the highest price we have ever seen for eggs. It is already twice as high as before."
At present, inflation in the United States is very severe. On Tuesday, April 12, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing that the U.S. CPI increased by 8.5% year-on-year in March, and the growth rate accelerated again, reaching the level of December 1981. The fastest growth rate in the past month was higher than market expectations of 8.4% and also ahead of the previous value of 7.9%. The year-on-year CPI growth rate exceeded 6% for the sixth consecutive month.
Eggs and chicken aren't the only products seeing price increases. Milk prices rose 11% last year, butter more than 5% and candy 7%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor price index.
Suarez said: "Due to rising commodity prices, labor shortages and rising fuel costs, many bakeries in the Chicago area have closed recently."
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