WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.2% in April after rising 0.5% in March and 0.4% in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also finished higher, rising 0.4% after gaining 1% in March and 0.5% in February.

Of the 18 items tracked by Milling & Baking News, 11 posted month-over-month gains, while 7 finished lower.

The April index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 256% of the 1982-84 average, up 2.2% from a year ago. For all food at home, the April index was 224.2, up 3.8% from April 2010.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in April was 222.4, down 0.4% from March but up 1.7% from April 2010. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 230.5, down 2% from March but up 3.3% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 220.4, up 0.1% from the previous month and up 1.6% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 228.1, down 0.8% from March but up 1.4% from April 2010.

The price index for bakery products in April was 273.8, up 0.5% from March and up 2.4% from April 2010.
The April index for bread was 166.7, up 1.7% from March and up 4.6% from April 2010. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 300.9, up 0.8% from March and up 3.8% from April 2010. For bread other than white, the index was 325.4, up 3.1% from March and up 6.5% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in April was 161.6, down 0.2% from March but up 6.1% from April 2010. The April index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 252.3, up 0.6% from March and up 0.6% from April 2010. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 261.2, up 0.5% from March and up 1.2% from April 2010; and cookies, 243.7, up 0.8% from the previous month and up 0.1% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in April was 248.4, down 0.4% from March but up 0.1% from April 2010. Under this heading, other price indexes in April included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 257.4, up 0.7% from March and up 1.6% from April 2010; crackers and cracker products, 289.1, down 0.1% from March but up 0.1% from April 2010; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 256.3, down 2.2% from March and down 1.7% from the previous year.