WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.1% in July after rising 0.6% in June and 1.2% in May, 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 0.6% after gaining 0.1% in June and 0.5% in May.
Of the 18 items tracked by Milling & Baking News, 11 posted month-over-month gains, while 7 finished lower.

The July index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 260.9% of the 1982-84 average, up 4.1% from a year ago. For all food at home, the July index was 226.9, up 5.1% from July 2010.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in July was 227.2, down 0.4% from June but up 4.1% from July 2010. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 245.7, up 1.1% from June and up 8.3% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 222.8, down 1.4% from the previous month but up 3.8% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 233.3, up 0.6% from June and up 3.2% from July 2010.

The price index for bakery products in July was 278.9, up 0.4% from June and up 4.1% from July 2010.
The July index for bread was 169.6, down 0.2% from June but up 5.7% from July 2010. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 312.4, up 0.6% from June and up 7.1% from July 2010. For bread other than white, the index was 323.8, down 0.9% from June but up 4.9% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in July was 164, up 1.5% from June and up 6.9% from July 2010. The July index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 252.3, down 0.2% from June but up 0.9% from July 2010. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 260.9, down 1% from June but up 1.8% from July 2010; and cookies, 244.1, up 0.9% from the previous month and up 0.2% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in July was 257.8, up 1% from June and up 4% from July 2010. Under this heading, other price indexes in July included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 264.4, down 0.2% from June but up 5% from July 2010; crackers and cracker products, 301, up 1.3% from June and up 5.1% from July 2010; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 267.3, up 0.7% from June and up 2.6% from the previous year.