WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.6% in June after rising 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 0.1% after gaining 0.5% in May and 0.4% in April.

Of the 18 items tracked by Milling & Baking News, 15 posted month-over-month gains, while 3 finished lower.
The June index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 260.6% of the 1982-84 average, up 4% from a year ago. For all food at home, the June index was 225.6, up 4.5% from June 2010.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in June was 228.2, up 1% from May and up 4.9% from June 2010. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 243.1, up 1.2% from May and up 8.4% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 226, up 1.1% from the previous month and up 4.9% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 231.9, up 0.7% from May and up 3.6% from June 2010.

The price index for bakery products in June was 277.7, up 0.3% from May and up 3.5% from June 2010.

The June index for bread was 169.9, up 0.8% from May and up 5.1% from June 2010. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 310.6, up 1.5% from May and up 5.6% from June 2010. For bread other than white, the index was 326.6, unchanged from May but up 5.3% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in June was 161.5, down 0.5% from May but up 6.1% from June 2010. The June index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 252.8, up 0.9% from May and up 0.7% from June 2010. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 263.6, up 1.2% from May and up 2.5% from June 2010; and cookies, 241.9, up 1% from the previous month but down 1.5% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in June was 255.1, down 0.3% from May but up 3.1% from June 2010. Under this heading, other price indexes in June included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 264.9, up 0.8% from May and up 5.5% from June 2010; crackers and cracker products, 297.1, down 1% from May but up 4% from June 2010; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 265.4, up 0.3% from May and up 2.3% from the previous year.