WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products fell 0.6% in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also decreased, falling 0.7%.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 16 posted month-over-month declines, while only 2 finished higher.
The March index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 273.2% of the 1982-84 average, down 0.6% from a year ago. For all food at home, the March index was 240.3, down 0.7% from March 2015.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in March was 231.4, down 1.1% from February and down 1.3% from March 2015. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 239, down 2.4% from February and down 4.3% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 227.1, down 1% from the previous month and down 0.8% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 240.3, down 0.7% from February and down 0.9% from March 2015.
The price index for bakery products in March was 296.9, down 0.3% from February but up 0.3% from March 2015.
The March index for bread was 178.4, down 0.7% from February but up 0.1% from March 2015. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 322.6, down 0.6% from February but up 0.3% from March 2015. For bread other than white, the index was 345.7, down 0.7% from February but up 0.2% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in March was 176.5, down 0.1% from February but up 0.1% from March 2015. The March index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 282.5, up 0.3% from February and up 1.5% from March 2015. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 300, up 0.6% from February and up 3.8% from March 2015; and cookies, 268.3, down 0.2% from the previous month and down 0.6% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in March was 264.3, down 0.8% from February and down 0.5% from March 2015. Under this heading, other price indexes in March included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 293.1, down 0.7% from February but up 0.1% from March 2015; crackers and cracker products, 303.2, down 0.9% from February and down 1.8% from March 2015; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 267.9, down 0.3% from February but up 0.2% from the previous year.
