Current Events in April 2026

• Egg prices have dropped sharply from last year’s record highs as U.S. supplies rebound.

• Retail prices are down about 58% year over year, with wholesale prices falling even more dramatically.

• The recovery follows fewer bird flu outbreaks and a rebuilding of the nation’s egg-laying flock.

While the price of everything seems to be going up, one item at the grocery store is cheaper than it was a year ago, with prices still declining. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service reports egg prices are declining significantly across the United States, offering relief to consumers after a period of record highs driven by avian influenza outbreaks.

Retail egg prices recently averaged about $2.50 per dozen, a 58% drop from a year earlier and the lowest level since late 2023, economists said. Wholesale prices have fallen even more steeply, with large Grade A eggs dropping from more than $8 per dozen last winter to below $1 earlier this year, before edging up slightly ahead of Easter demand. 

The primary driver of the decline is a recovery in supply following last year’s widespread losses tied to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Fewer and less severe outbreaks this past winter allowed producers to rebuild flocks, boosting production nationwide. 

As a result, the number of U.S. egg-laying hens increased from about 292 million last year to roughly 308 million this year, a significant rebound from the historic lows seen in 2025. Experts say the basic economics are straightforward: more birds mean more eggs, which pushes prices down.

Season demand may affect future prices

Consumer behavior has also played a role. Demand softened when prices surged last year, contributing to the current market correction even as supply improved. 

Despite the overall decline, prices may fluctuate in the near term due to seasonal demand. Easter and spring baking traditions typically boost egg consumption, leading to modest price increases in the short run. 

Looking ahead, industry analysts caution that risks remain. While lower feed costs have helped stabilize production, rising prices for inputs such as corn, soybean meal, and fertilizer could pressure producers later this year. Additionally, avian influenza continues to pose a threat, particularly during the spring migration of wild birds, which can spread the virus.

For now, however, consumers are benefiting from a rare period of relief in grocery store egg prices, with eggs once again among the more affordable protein options compared with higher-priced meats like beef. 

• Breakups involving pets are increasingly contentious, with animals often treated as both emotional companions and legal property.

• Courts in most states still classify pets as property, complicating custody disputes and limiting shared arrangements.

• A growing legal and cultural shift is pushing toward considering the pet’s well-being, though laws remain inconsistent.

Couples, whether or not they’re married, often adopt a dog or cat long before they even think about children. But attachment to these furry creatures quickly grows, and to the couple they are almost like kids.

So what happens if the relationship hits the rocks? The absence of children may make the split-up look fairly simple. But the presence of a pet presents a whole new set of complications.

Despite the deep emotional bonds people form with animals, the law in most U.S. states still treats pets as personal property.

That means courts often approach pet disputes the same way they would divide furniture or cars, by determining ownership rather than emotional attachment.

Who has the strongest claim?

In practical terms, this can favor the person who purchased or adopted the pet, paid veterinary bills, or appears on registration documents. 

But that approach can feel out of step with reality for couples who raised a pet together.

Legal experts say pet custody fights are becoming more common — and more heated. Pets are often viewed as family members, and many owners are unwilling to give them up. 

The emotional toll can be significant. Losing a pet after a breakup can trigger grief comparable to losing a loved one, underscoring why these disputes can escalate quickly.

In some cases, pets even become leverage in contentious separations, with one partner using access to the animal as a bargaining tool.

The limits of the legal system

Courts are often reluctant to intervene unless couples cannot reach an agreement.

When they do step in, judges typically consider factors such as:

• Who originally acquired the pet

• Who provided primary care (feeding, vet visits, daily routines)

• Each person’s living situation and ability to care for the animal 

Still, unlike child custody, there is often no concept of visitation rights. One party may be awarded full ownership, leaving the other with no legal claim.

A shift toward ‘pet custody’

In recent years, some states have begun to rethink this framework. A small but growing number now allow courts to consider the pet’s well-being when making decisions. 

Legislative efforts are also underway. For example, a 2026 proposal in Colorado would allow judges to weigh factors like an animal’s health, safety, and emotional needs — bringing pet disputes closer to child custody standards. 

These changes reflect a broader cultural shift: pets are increasingly seen as sentient companions, not just property.

Planning ahead

To avoid conflict, experts recommend couples plan ahead. Tools like pet custody agreements — or “pet-nups” — can outline who will care for the animal, how expenses are shared, and whether visitation is allowed. 

Without such agreements, disputes can quickly become all-or-nothing battles, with courts awarding the pet to just one party.

As relationships evolve, so does the role of pets within them. But while emotional expectations have shifted, the legal system is still catching up.

For now, couples who share a pet face a difficult reality: when the relationship ends, the fate of a beloved animal may depend less on love — and more on paperwork.

• Watch out for hidden hazards: Chocolate, xylitol-sweetened candy, baked goods, grapes, onions, lilies, and plastic Easter grass can all pose serious risks to pets.

• Prep your home before celebrations start: Keep baskets, candy, and decorations out of reach, and do a thorough sweep after egg hunts to prevent accidental snacking.

• Act fast if something seems off: Vomiting, tremors, trouble breathing, or unusual behavior are red flags — contact your vet or pet poison control right away.

Between chocolate bunnies, festive decorations, and big family meals, Easter has all the ingredients for a joyful celebration — but for pet owners, it can also come with a few hidden risks. 

Curious pets don’t know what’s off-limits, and it only takes a moment for something dangerous to end up in their mouths. 

To help keep your holiday stress-free, Dr. Kate Elden, Chief Medical Officer of Dutch, shares what to watch out for, the warning signs that require immediate attention, and simple ways to protect your pets so everyone can enjoy the day safely.

What foods to avoid

Getting the wrong kinds of table scraps could spell disaster for your pet this holiday season. Dr. Elden shared some of the top things to ensure your pets stay away from this Easier.

“The big Easter emergencies are usually not exotic and very preventable,” Dr. Elden said. “Holidays change routines, food gets left out, and curious pets move fast.” 

The big ones to be aware of are: 

• Chocolate

• Xylitol-sweetened candy

• Baked goods

• Grapes or raisins in holiday foods

• Onions and garlic 

• Lilies for cats

• Plastic Easter grass or wrappers that can lodge in the GI tract 

Proactive steps to help your pets

Before the festivities kick off, there are ways that you can make sure your pets are taken care of and safe. 

“Think of Easter prep like toddler proofing for pets,” Dr. Elden said. “Put baskets, candy, plastic grass, wrappers, and baked goods completely out of reach, keep cats away from lilies, and do a full sweep before and after the egg hunt so no candy-filled eggs or plastic pieces are left behind. 

“Prevention matters because pets do not know it is a holiday, they just know something exciting showed up at nose level.”

How to spot an emergency

While no pet owner wants to spend the holiday in the emergency room with their furry friend, it’s important to know how to spot something serious. 

“If you think your pet ate something harmful and you are unsure, call or video with your veterinarian or Poison Control right away,” Dr. Elden said. “Do not wait. When it comes to toxins, early action can make all the difference.” 

Red flags to look for include: 

• Repeated vomiting

• Tremors

• Seizures 

• Trouble breathing

• Collapse

• Weakness

• Severe abdominal pain

• Any sudden change in behavior that tells you your pet is not acting like themselves

• Rising chocolate prices are reshaping Easter shopping habits, but most Americans are still celebrating — just more strategically.

• Simple savings tactics like stacking discounts, timing purchases, and using leftover gift cards can help cut costs without sacrificing traditions.

• Beyond candy, expenses like clothing, décor, and hosting extras can quietly drive up your total — making them key areas to scale back.

Easter may be a little pricier this year, but for most Americans, it’s still very much on the calendar. 

New data from RetailMeNot shows that while rising chocolate costs are forcing shoppers to rethink how they spend, they’re not giving up the holiday altogether. In fact, more than eight in 10 consumers still plan to celebrate — they’re just getting smarter about it. 

From hunting for deals to rethinking what goes into baskets, shoppers are finding ways to hold onto traditions without overspending. ConsumerAffairs spoke with RetailMeNot’s Retail Insights Expert Stephanie Carls, who explained that the focus isn’t on cutting Easter out — it’s on making it work within today’s tighter budgets.

Easter savings strategies

Like any holiday, there’s ways to make the most of your budget – even as prices in nearly every category continue to increase. 

Carls shared her top three savings strategies consumers can employ as they prepare for Easter weekend: 

• Stack savings, but do it in the right order. Start with the sale price, stack a promo code on top, then activate any cash back offers before you check out. Most people stop at the sale price and call it a day. All three stacked together is a different final number. 

• Know what you’re shopping for before you decide when to shop. If selection matters, shop before the holiday. If price is the priority, the deepest discounts show up after Easter Sunday, not before it. Those are two different strategies and they’re both right, just for different things.

• Use what you already have. Gift cards, reward points, store credit collecting dust in an app since December. Leftover gift cards are still in circulation and ready to stack on top of already-discounted products. Easter is low-stakes enough to actually use them. 

The priciest categories this Easter

If you’re preparing for Easter, here the top three categories that Carls said are likely to run you a higher bill this year: 

• Spring clothes. Outside of chocolate, spring apparel is the category most people aren’t thinking about but should be. Twenty-one percent of shoppers in our data plan to buy clothing or seasonal apparel for Easter. Pre-Easter is the best window for spring clothing. Department stores are discounting spring dresses, kids’ Easter outfits, and pastel basics in the weeks leading up to the holiday, and popular sizes move fast. If the outfit is happening either way, buy it now. 

• Chocolate specifically deserves its own conversation this year. Our data shows 26% of shoppers plan to spend less on chocolate because of rising prices, and another 37% say they’ll look for deals or cash back before buying it. That’s nearly two thirds of shoppers changing their behavior around one category. 

• Skip anything marketed as an Easter-themed version of something that exists year-round. The bunny on the packaging is not a selling point. You are paying for the label. 

Balancing Easter shopping in your budget

Carls explained that Easter baskets aren’t the only place where the holiday gets expensive. 

“RetailMeNot's data shows the average Easter spend this year is $88, and candy and chocolate top the list at 68% of shoppers planning to buy it,” she said. “That’s not the budget problem. 

“The creep happens in the categories people don’t think about until they’re already in the store. Decorations and hosting supplies, floral arrangements, restaurant brunches. Those add up fast and they’re a lot easier to cut than the chocolate bunny.” 

Her best advice: 

• Keep the traditions that matter to your family. 

• Set a per-basket number before you shop, not after. 

• Deciding the number upfront means you stop justifying each small purchase on its own and start making real tradeoffs. 

“The pressure to spend big is mostly manufactured,” Carls said. “Shoppers have more room here than the seasonal marketing wants them to think. Timing and a short list usually get the job done.”