Blow for hard-up families as household essential’s price soars by a QUARTER amid shortages

EGG prices have soared by a quarter in the past two years – leaving struggling families “shelling out”.

Wholesale costs for a pack of 12 jumped from 79p at the end of 2020 to 98p at the same time last year.

Times Newspapers LtdEgg prices have soared by nearly a quarter in the last two years amid shortages of the versatile foodstuff[/caption]

GettyWholesale costs for a pack of 12 leapt from 79p at the end of 2020 to 98p last year — up 24 per cent[/caption]

The 19p increase in “farm-gate” prices represents a 24 per cent hike in the fry-up favourite.

And more than 30 million fewer eggs are being produced and leading to supermarket shortages, according to Labour analysis of government stats.

Two years ago 163 million of the omelette staples passed through packing stations in England and Wales compared to 130 million now.

Shadow Environment Secretary Jim McMahon told the Sun: “The Tories have created a perfect storm where families are shelling out when it comes to the price of British eggs.

“Thérèse Coffey has been sticking her head in the sand whilst the British public and our Great British food producers suffer in this Tory cost of living crisis.”

Environment Secretary Ms Coffey has denied Britain’s egg crisis has been caused by a “market failure”.

She was rebuked by food bosses who warned egg farmers are pausing production amid feed shortages and crippling energy costs.