The USDA said the combination of bird flu and inflation might drive up egg prices by another 20% this year. At Kuhns Market on the North Side, one of the first things we wanted to

Corwin was forced to lay off 48 workers but kept 20 to help with the clean up. He said the company was successful in salvaging many of the 10,000 eggs that he hopes could represent the future of Crescent, which has developed a unique genetic strain of duck over generations.

The humble egg, one of nature’s perfect foods, a self-packaged, relatively inexpensive source of protein that can serve as a lowly hangover remedy or help a souffle rise to heavenly heights, is also a great teacher. It’s helping Americans understand how a free-market economy works: When demand is high and supply is low, prices rise.