WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products decreased 0.1% in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home, meanwhile, was higher, rising 0.1% after climbing 0.1% in June.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 10 posted month-over-month declines, 6 finished higher and 2 were unchanged.
The July index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 271.3% of the 1982-84 average, up 1.1% from a year ago. For all food at home, the July index was 233.6, up 0.1% from July 2012.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in July was 234.7, down 0.1% from June but up 0.1% from July 2012. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 258.3, up 0.2% from June and up 0.1% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 229.6, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 0.3% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 240.5, up 0.1% from June but down 0.3% from July 2012.
The price index for bakery products in July was 291.5, down 0.2% from June but up 1.6% from July 2012.
The July index for bread was 177.4, down 0.3% from June but up 1.4% from July 2012. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 323.1, down 0.6% from June but up 1.4% from July 2012. For bread other than white, the index was 341.7, unchanged from June but up 1.2% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in July was 171.4, unchanged from June but up 2.6% from July 2012. The July index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 271.2, up 0.7% from June and up 2% from July 2012. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 282.9, up 0.9% from June and up 2.9% from July 2012; and cookies, 261.7, up 1% from the previous month and up 1.5% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in July was 262.4, down 1.1% from June but up 0.1% from July 2012. Under this heading, other price indexes in July included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 292.1, down 0.5% from June but up 6.8% from July 2012; crackers and cracker products, 296.2, down 1.2% from June and down 3.1% from July 2012; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 270.9, down 0.9% from June but up 2% from the previous year.