WASHINGTON — After three consecutive months of gains, the Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products in August fell 0.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home fell 0.1%, its seventh straight month of declines.

The August index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 252.4% of the 1982-84 average, up 0.9% from a year ago. For all food at home, the August index was 213.7, down 0.1% from July and down 1.7% from August 2008.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in August was 223.5, down 0.5% from July but up 1.5% from August 2008. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 234, down 1.7% from July and down 0.9% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 219.6, down 1% from the previous month but up 2.8% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 231.3, up 0.9% from July and up 0.3% from August 2008.

The price index for bakery products in August was 267.6, down 0.4% from July but up 0.6% from August 2008.

The August index for bread was 160.9, down 1.8% from July and down 1.2% from August 2008. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 295.7, down 1.9% from July and down 1.3% from August 2008. For bread other than white, the index was 305.6, down 1.4% from July and down 0.7% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in August was 149.6, down 2.4% from July and down 3.3% from August 2008. The August index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 249.8, up 0.2% from July and up 2.7% from August 2008. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 255.4, down 0.2% from July but up 2% from August 2008; and cookies, 243.4, up 0.5% from the previous month and up 3.3% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in August was 249.3, up 1.5% from July and up 2.3% from August 2008. Under this heading, other price indexes in August included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 253.4, up 0.7% from July and up 1.1% from August 2008; crackers and cracker products, 291.6, up 1.6% from July and up 2.4% from August 2008; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 258.1, up 1.7% from July and up 4.1% from the previous year.