Egg prices under Ronald Reagan
Egg prices (grade A large, per dozen) · Republican · Jan 20, 1981 – Jan 20, 1989
Under Ronald Reagan, the price of a dozen eggs went from $1.03 in Dec 1980 to $0.83 in Dec 1988, down $0.20 (−19.2%). That is −$0.02/yr. Ranked by yearly change, it is the 2nd-fastest fall of the 7 completed terms since 1977.
Average US retail price of a dozen grade A large eggs (CPI average price data). In dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation; spikes mostly follow bird flu outbreaks that cull laying hens. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, via FRED APU0000708111. Monthly data, fetched Oct 19, 2026. The chart runs from four years before the term to two years after it.
Egg prices under Reagan, year by year
Highest reading during the term: $1.32 in Feb 1984. Lowest: $0.68 in May 1988.
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1980, before inauguration | $1.03 | |
| Dec 1981 | $0.97 | −$0.06 |
| Dec 1982 | $0.81 | −$0.15 |
| Dec 1983 | $1.13 | +$0.32 |
| Dec 1984 | $0.87 | −$0.26 |
| Dec 1985 | $0.91 | +$0.04 |
| Dec 1986 | $0.91 | $0.00 |
| Dec 1987 | $0.73 | −$0.18 |
| Dec 1988 | $0.83 | +$0.10 |
Egg prices under every president
Terms sorted by yearly change, fastest rise first, each next to the trend over the four years before it. A term's first year mostly reflects the previous administration's policies, and Congress, the Fed and the world economy move this number too. Why nothing here is a score.
| President | During term | 4 years before |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Biden 2021–2025 | $1.48 → $4.15 +$0.67/yr | +$0.02/yr |
| George W. Bush 2001–2009 | $0.96 → $1.83 +$0.11/yr | −$0.09/yr |
| Donald Trump (1st term) 2017–2021 | $1.38 → $1.48 +$0.02/yr | −$0.16/yr |
| George H. W. Bush 1989–1993 | $0.83 → $0.93 +$0.02/yr | −$0.01/yr |
| Bill Clinton 1993–2001 | $0.93 → $0.96 $0.00/yr | +$0.02/yr |
| Ronald Reagan 1981–1989 | $1.03 → $0.83 −$0.02/yr | — |
| Barack Obama 2009–2017 | $1.83 → $1.38 −$0.06/yr | +$0.16/yr |
| Donald Trump (2nd term) 2025–present | $4.15 → $2.27 −$1.07/yr · through Sep 2026 | +$0.67/yr |
Every term lined up from inauguration day on one chart · Egg prices by president since 1980