WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products in February inched narrowly lower from January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The decline follows a gain of 0.5% in January.

The February index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 254.2% of the 1982-84 average, up 8.2% from a year ago. For all food at home, the February index was 218.4, down 0.5% from January but up 4.6% from February 2008.

The C.P.I. for Cereals and Cereal Products in February was 222.1, down 0.6% from January but up 8.3% from February 2008. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 237.9, up 0.2% from January and up 12.2% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 214.8, down 1% from the previous month but up 4.1% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 233.8, down 0.3% from January but up 13.6% from February 2008.

The price index for Bakery Products in February was 271.3, up 0.1% from January and up 8.1% from February 2008.

The February index for bread was 164.9, unchanged from January but up 7.4% from February 2008. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 302.4, up 0.4% from January and up 7.7% from February 2008. For bread other than white, the index was 313.1, down 0.8% from January but up 6.8% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in February was 158.1, up 0.3% from January and up 8.7% from February 2008. The February index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 249.3, down 0.2% from January but up 8.1% from February 2008. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 256.3, up 0.2% from January and up 6.5% from February 2008; and cookies, 242.2, down 0.6% from the previous month but up 9.7% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in February was 248.6, up 0.6% from January and up 8.6% from February 2008. Under this heading, other price indexes in February included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 253.3, down 0.1% from January but up 5.9% from February 2007; crackers and cracker products, 292 up 0.7% from January and up 10.3% from February 2008; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 255.1, up 1.9% from January and up 8.6% from the previous year.