WASHINGTON — After two consecutive months of gains, the Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products gave back ground, decreasing 0.5% in September after rising 0.1% in August and 0.4% in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home, meanwhile, increased 0.4% for the second straight month.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 6 posted month-over-month gains, 11 finished lower and 1 was unchanged.

The September index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 270.7% of the 1982-84 average, down 0.1% from a year ago. For all food at home, the September index was 241.6, up 3.1% from September 2013.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in September was 231.5, down 1.2% from August and down 0.2% from September 2013. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 249.1, down 2% from August and down 1.2% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 225.9, down 1.2% from the previous month and down 0.7% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 238.9, down 0.9% from August but up 0.6% from September 2013.

The price index for bakery products in September was 292.8, down 0.2% from August and down 0.1% from September 2013.

The September index for bread was 177.1, unchanged from August and down 0.1% from September 2013. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 319.7, down 0.1% from August and down 1.1% from September 2013. For bread other than white, the index was 343.8, up 0.1% from August and up 0.5% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in September was 172.1, up 0.2% from August and up 0.2% from September 2013. The September index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 272.9, up 0.1% from August but down 0.3% from September 2013. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 284.8, up 0.8% from August and up 0.8% from September 2013; and cookies, 263.1, down 0.9% from the previous month and down 0.8% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in September was 265, down 0.7% from August but up 0.1% from September 2013. Under this heading, other price indexes in September included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 288, down 1.8% from August and down 0.3% from September 2013; crackers and cracker products, 306.7, down 1.2% from August but up 1.2% from September 2013; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 271.4, up 0.1% from August but down 0.7% from the previous year.