Egg prices soar in Kerala; retail inflation at highest level

Kasaragod: Surging egg prices have emerged as the latest blow to household budgets in Kerala, with retail prices climbing to ₹8.50 per egg from around ₹7 in recent weeks. The spike comes amid a broader rise in food prices that pushed India's retail inflation to 4.38% in June, the highest since December 2024.

Egg prices have risen due to a sharp increase in poultry feed costs, with soybean, maize and bran becoming more expensive. The cost of poultry feed has increased by ₹450-500 a sack within a month.

Kerala, which depends heavily on egg supplies from Namakkal in Tamil Nadu, is also facing supply shortages after extreme summer heat reduced poultry production in Tamil Nadu. Increased procurement for Tamil Nadu's school midday meal scheme and higher demand during Kerala's trawling ban have further tightened supplies.

Vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, beans, potatoes, ginger and green chillies have become costlier, while rice, pulses, edible oils, spices, fish, chicken, beef and pork have also registered price increases. A domestic LPG cylinder now costs around ₹950, with the delivered price crossing ₹1,000 in many places.

Higher fuel prices linked to the West Asia conflict, increased transport costs and lower agricultural output following extreme weather have also contributed to the inflationary pressure.