WASHINGTON — The average price paid for white pan bread rose in December while whole wheat bread declined, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.
The national average retail price of white pan bread was 138.6c, up 1.1c per lb from November but down 0.4c from December 2009. On a month-to-month basis, the average price for white pan bread rose in one region — up 11.5c in the Midwest — and fell in two regions — down 9.1c in the West and down 0.7c in the South. For the third consecutive month, the B.L.S. did not report an average price for the Northeast.

At 188c per lb, the national average price for whole wheat bread was down 0.4c per lb from November, a month after soaring 14.1c month-over-month, but was up 12.3c per lb from December 2009.

The national average price of family flour in December was 44.1c per lb, down 0.5c from November and down 2.3c from December 2009. The national average family flour price has now declined in four consecutive months and has fallen to its lowest level since January 2008.

The national average price for spaghetti and macaroni in December was 119.1c per lb, up 5c from November and up 2.2c from December 2009. Chocolate chip cookies were 344.2c per lb, up 9.5c from November and up 3.5c from December 2009.