Hobo - I would be happy to pay $2.49 that was about same price here a year ago, before bird flu and cage law. I don't think the bird flu is as much to blame for high prices in Cal. as there is no outbreak here. It's the cage law, requiring egg producers to change how they raise chickens in Cal., there has always been a large poultry industry here. When I first bought my home here (20+) years ago, there was one of the largest egg producers in the nation 1 mile from my house. Chickens and cows are gone replaced with houses and shopping centers.