Why egg prices keep climbing in Colorado

• In Colorado, an estimated 9.7 million birds have been impacted since the outbreak's onset in February 2022.

Zoom in: Some retailers, including in Denver, are limiting the number of egg cartons consumers can purchase, while others are struggling to stock shelves.

By the numbers: Slim supply is pushing prices upwards of $8 per dozen in many supermarkets.

• Colorado's cage-free egg law has also increased the price tag an estimated 18% — about $1 more per dozen, the Denver Post reports.

State of play: Colorado Rep. Ryan Gonzalez (R-Greeley) recently introduced a bill to repeal the cage-free mandate to lower consumer costs, but the proposal failed on an 8-5 vote this week.

• Bill Scebbi, executive director of Colorado Egg Producers, called the bill "a misguided response to a complex economic factor" and attributed high prices and limited availability of eggs to avian influenza, "not state regulations," per the Post.

What we're watching: Egg prices are expected to keep climbing in the coming weeks as the bird flu outbreak continues to strain supply.