The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that egg prices in the United States rose dramatically in August, up 28.1 percent from the same period a year ago.

That brought the average national price for a dozen grade eggs to $3.20 in August, according to the BLS. But Connecticut consumers, as well as industry and supermarket officials, say that since then, prices in retailers across the state have begun to decline.

The reason for the price spike is a reduction in the number of hens laying eggs as a result of the Avian flu, said Meghan Bell, a spokeswoman for the Norwalk-based family-owned grocery chain Stew Leonard's. The chain has eight stores in Conmnecticut, New York and New Jersey, including locations in Newington, Danbury and Norwalk.

"Conventional eggs are market-driven and Avian flu has impacted the supply and the cost of conventional eggs," Bell said. "Our 18-pack of conventional eggs has increased by about 5 percent in both cost (to acquire) and at retail. However, please note that we are seeing a price decrease in the conventional egg market and expect prices to stabilize in the coming weeks."

Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, said because eggs are a commodity, they are subject to wild price fluctuations.

"It's all about supply and demand because they are such a staple in so many people's diets," Pesce said. "The prices have been up and down all year."

SoFi Technologies, a San Francisco-based financial services firm, reported in March that at the end of 2023, the average cost of a dozen eggs in Connecticut was $5.54 a dozen.

With that price increase, Stew Leonard's customers shifted to buying eggs produced by hens that are producing either organic, range-free and pasture raised, she said. The price per dozen for those eggs ranges from $3.99 to $4.99 a dozen, according to Bell, and those prices have been stable.

At Stop & Shop's Maplecroft Plaza store in Cheshire, a dozen large brown eggs were priced at $4.99 a dozen.

Mitlitsky Eggs in Lebanon is one of the leading suppliers eggs to supermarkets and food service companies across the Northeast. The company has been in business since 1964 and although it stopped in-house production in 2001, Militsky Eggs now heads a consortium of about two dozen farms that send their product to the company, which then distributes them to around 250 grocery stores and food service businesses.

Owner Rich Militsky also pointed to the Avian flu as the key problem.

Total egg production in July fell 2.6 percent compared to July 2023, according to data released this week by the U.S.Department of Agriculture. This July also marked the second month in a row that the number egg laying birds decreased. As the number of birds is replenished, Militsky said the price of eggs will go down.

"In the past few weeks, the price has come down by about $2.30 a dozen," he said.

Shoppers who responded to a CT Insider social media post had a variety of reactions to the price spike that occurred in August. Some people, like Daniela Williams of Cheshire, chose not to change their buying habits.

"I buy local, two dozen a week," Williams said. " I don't track the price only because they are a huge part of our diet and it's one staple we would not do without."

Danielle D'Angelo of Hamden said she shops for groceries at Aldi and has seen prices increase from $1.89 a dozen two months ago to $3.69 last week. The increase prompted her to skip buying eggs.

Cheshire resident Patricia Cramer-Zawel said she buys "a ton of eggs" for her family. But by shopping at Costco and getting her eggs in bulk, Cramer-Zawel said she has "been a bit better protected there from huge price increases."