WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products decreased 0.1% in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home increased 0.2%.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 11 posted month-over-month declines, while 7 finished higher.
The April index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 271.9% of the 1982-84 average, down 0.7% from a year ago. For all food at home, the April index was 238.8, down 0.8% from April 2016.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in April was 227.8, down 0.3% from March and down 1.8% from April 2016. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 235, down 1.6% from March and down 3.8% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 225.3, down 0.1% from the previous month and down 0.6% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 234.4, up 0.1% from March but down 2.8% from April 2016.
The price index for bakery products in April was 297, down 0.1% from March and down 0.2% from April 2016.
The April index for bread was 178.6, up 0.6% from March and up 0.5% from April 2016. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 322.7, down 0.2% from March but up 0.7% from April 2016. For bread other than white, the index was 346.7, up 1.6% from March and up 0.6% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in April was 175.7, down 0.6% from March and down 0.1% from April 2016. The April index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 283.5, up 0.5% from March and up 0.4% from April 2016. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 301.5, down 0.2% from March but up 1.8% from April 2016; and cookies, 269.5, up 1% from the previous month but down 0.8% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in April was 264.5, down 0.8% from March and down 1.4% from April 2016. Under this heading, other price indexes in April included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 288.6, down 2% from March and down 1.4% from April 2016; crackers and cracker products, 304.1, down 1.2% from March and down 2.3% from April 2016; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 268.7, up 0.2% from March but down 0.5% from the previous year.
