The price of eggs has been going up both in Connecticut and around the country lately, and experts say that trend is expected to continue.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics - the average national price of a dozen eggs rose over 13% from November to December, when it was 36% higher than it was the year before in Dec. 2023.

Carol Devine, of Westport, says because of this, "I don't buy eggs anymore. I stopped. It's too high."

She's not the only one. Waterbury resident Dominic Capomolla tells News 12 that she is going to the local farmers to get their eggs.

There doesn't seem to be much relief in sight. The USDA estimates egg prices will go up another 20% in 2025, blaming a combination of inflation and a bird flu outbreak that killed over 17 million egg-laying hens in the last two months of 2024.

"I feel sorry," says Capomolla. "Some of us have enough money to buy the food, some of us don't."

It's not just shoppers feeling the impact, but also businesses. Demitri Papanikolaou, who owns Orem's Diner in Wilton, admits the rising costs are hurting his bottom line.

With plate after plate of egg omelets, egg sandwiches and egg breakfast platters coming out of his kitchen every morning, he says he’s considering raising prices.

“We try to ride it out as best we can, but you come to a point where you say enough is enough," he says.

Shoppers also seem to agree, saying they know that continuing to pay whatever is listed will not make prices go down.

Instead, Devine recommends "you make a decision on what you're going to buy, what is reasonably priced."

Capomolla believes that could be the only way to make an impact.

"Once the supply comes down that you don't buy from them, then you'll see what happens, then the price is going to drop," he says.

Shoppers also said they hoped the government would do something to help out, and while President Donald Trump has credited the cost of living for his win, he also recently said immigration - not inflation - is his No. 1 issue right now.

In an interview on CBS on Sunday, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged it will take a little while before prices in general start coming down, saying, "Rome wasn't built in a day.”