Baked foods and cereal
The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products increased 0.2% in May.
 

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products increased 0.2% in May, 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, 14 posted month-over-month increases, 2 finished lower, and 2 were unchanged.

The May index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 272.4% of the 1982-84 average, down 0.3% from a year ago. For all food at home, the May index was 239, down 0.3% from May 2016.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in May was 228.4, up 0.3% from April but down 1.7% from May 2016. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 239.7, up 2% from April but down 2.7% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 225.4, up 0.1% from the previous month but down 0.7% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 234.4, unchanged from April but down 2.7% from May 2016.

The price index for bakery products in May was 297.6, up 0.2% from April and up 0.5% from May 2016.

The May index for bread was 178.6, unchanged from April but up 0.5% from May 2016. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 324.3, up 0.5% from April and up 0.5% from May 2016. For bread other than white, the index was 345.2, down 0.4% from April but up 0.9% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in May was 176.1, up 0.2% from April and up 0.9% from May 2016. The May index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 283.2, down 0.1% from April but up 0.9% from May 2016. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 301.9, up 0.1% from April and up 2.4% from May 2016; and cookies, 269.6, up 0.1% from the previous month and up 0.1% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in May was 265.9, up 0.5% from April but down 0.1% from May 2016. Under this heading, other price indexes in May included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 292.3, up 1.3% from April and up 0.3% from May 2016; crackers and cracker products, 306, up 0.6% from April but down 1.4% from May 2016; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 269.6, up 0.3% from April and up 1% from the previous year.