WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products fell 0.2% in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also declined, decreasing 0.8%.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 12 posted month-over-month declines and 6 finished higher.
The February index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 273.1% of the 1982-84 average, up 0.9% from a year ago. For all food at home, the February index was 242.9, up 2.8% from February 2014.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in February was 233.2, down 0.5% from January but up 0.7% from February 2014. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 252.5, down 0.2% from January and down 0.8% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 227.6, down 0.8% from the previous month but up 0.5% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 239.9, down 0.1% from January but up 1.4% from February 2014.
The price index for bakery products in February was 295.5, down 0.1% from January but up 1% from February 2014.
The February index for bread was 177.6, down 0.2% from January but up 0.7% from February 2014. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 319.6, down 1.1% from January and down 0.8% from February 2014. For bread other than white, the index was 344.9, up 0.9% from January and up 1.5% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in February was 177.3, up 0.5% from January and up 1.9% from February 2014. The February index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 278, up 0.2% from January and up 1.9% from February 2014. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 288.1, up 0.4% from January and up 2% from February 2014; and cookies, 269.9, up 0.2% from the previous month and up 1.7% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in February was 264.5, down 0.5% from January but up 0.1% from February 2014. Under this heading, other price indexes in February included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 285.1, down 2.9% from January and down 1.7% from February 2014; crackers and cracker products, 306.1, up 0.2% from January but down 0.4% from February 2014; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 270.5, down 0.2% from January but up 0.1% from the previous year.