WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products decreased 0.5% in September, its second consecutive month-over-month decline, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home, meanwhile, finished higher, climbing 0.3% for the second straight month.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 11 posted month-over-month declines, 6 finished higher and one was unchanged.
The September index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 273.5% of the 1982-84 average, up 1% from a year ago. For all food at home, the September index was 243.4, up 0.7% from September 2014.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in September was 231.3, down 1.6% from August and down 0.1% from September 2014. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 246.3, down 0.2% from August and down 1.1% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 226.5, down 1.7% from the previous month but up 0.2% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 238.5, down 1.9% from August and down 0.2% from September 2014.
The price index for bakery products in September was 297.5, unchanged from August but up 1.6% from September 2014.
The September index for bread was 179.6, up 0.8% from August and up 1.4% from September 2014. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 325.7, up 1.4% from August and up 1.8% from September 2014. For bread other than white, the index was 345.7, 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 176.2, up 0.2% from August and up 2.3% from September 2014. The September index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 279.4, down 0.2% from August but up 2.3% from September 2014. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 294.4, up 0.3% from August and up 3.3% from September 2014; and cookies, 268.8, down 0.4% from the previous month but up 2.1% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in September was 267.1, down 0.7% from August but up 0.8% from September 2014. Under this heading, other price indexes in September included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 295.6, down 0.4% from August but up 2.6% from September 2014; crackers and cracker products, 308.2, down 1.5% from August but up 0.5% from September 2014; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 268.1, down 1% from August and down 1.2% from the previous year.
