WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rebounded after a down month, increasing 0.2% in October after falling 0.5% in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also increased 0.2%, its fourth straight month of gains.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 12 posted month-over-month gains and 6 finished lower.
The October index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 271.3% of the 1982-84 average, up 0.4% from a year ago. For all food at home, the October index was 242.1, up 3.2% from October 2013.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in October was 232.8, up 0.6% from September and up 0.1% from October 2013. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 245.9, down 1.3% from September and down 0.5% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 229.2, up 1.4% from the previous month and up 0.9% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 238.8, down 0.1% from September and down 1.6% from October 2013.
The price index for bakery products in October was 293, up 0.1% from September and up 0.6% from October 2013.
The October index for bread was 175.6, down 0.8% from September but up 1.3% from October 2013. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 318.5, down 0.4% from September but up 0.5% from October 2013. For bread other than white, the index was 339.5, down 1.3% from September but up 2% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in October was 174, up 1% from September and up 0.2% from October 2013. The October index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 274.4, up 0.5% from September and up 0.1% from October 2013. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 286.7, up 0.7% from September and up 1.3% from October 2013; and cookies, 265.2, up 0.8% from the previous month but down 0.3% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in October was 265.1, up 0.1% from September and up 0.5% from October 2013. Under this heading, other price indexes in October included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 288.1, up 0.1% from September but down 0.4% from October 2013; crackers and cracker products, 307.6, up 0.3% from September and up 1.3% from October 2013; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 268.5, down 1.1% from September and down 0.8% from the previous year.