The wholesale price of eggs has dropped sharply since the beginning of March after soaring for months, but it may take a few weeks for grocery shoppers to see the decline.

Wholesale egg prices, which is what retailers pay to procure eggs, have fallen to a national average of just more than $4 for a dozen large white eggs, down from a peak of more than $8 at the end of February, according to data from the Agriculture Department released last week.

But because eggs typically have a four-week shelf life, it might be the end of March before retail prices start to drop, said Jeremy Horpedahl, an associate professor of economics at University of Central Arkansas. Some stores, he added, may not lower prices until their current inventory sells out.

Economists said that the decline in wholesale prices, which are still above long-term averages, was likely fueled by a combination of factors: bird flu coming under control, weaker consumer demand, ramped-up supply and producer pricing decisions. The Agriculture Department noted that there had been no significant outbreaks of avian flu in March so far, and economists say any new outbreaks could push up prices again. The virus has forced egg producers to cull tens of millions of hens since late last year.

In February, the retail price of eggs rose 10.4% from the previous month, continuing a months-long climb, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week.

Economists noted that prices might not come down evenly across the country. Areas with competing grocery stores might see egg prices fall more quickly, Horpedahl said, while those dominated by a single chain — with the power to keep prices high for longer — may not. Retail prices may also depend on grocery chains’ strategies, with some opting to keep prices lower to entice customers into stores.

“They can pass the savings of wholesale prices onto us entirely, or not at all, or somewhere in between,” said David Anderson, a professor of economics and business at Centre College in Danville, Ky.

High demand for eggs leading up to Easter may keep prices elevated through then, he said.

President Donald Trump, who made lowering grocery prices a key part of his campaign, has jumped on the wholesale price trend, citing the drop in his speech at the Justice Department last week. At the same time, his sweeping tariffs have stoked concern about an uptick in prices for a host of products, including grocery staples.

The price of eggs and other groceries created angst during the Biden administration, becoming a top concern among voters ahead of the 2024 election. An outbreak of bird flu in 2022, along with increasing fuel, feed and packaging costs linked to the coronavirus pandemic, pushed wholesale egg prices up to nearly $5 a dozen at their peak.