WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products in December rose 0.2% from November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The gain follows a loss of 0.1% in November.
The December index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 253.1% of the 1982-84 average, up 10.5% from a year ago. For all food at home, the December index was 218.7, down 0.2% from November but up 6.2% from December 2007.
The C.P.I. for Cereals and Cereal Products in December was 222.6, down 0.1% from November but up 11.6% from December 2007. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 229.9, up 0.7% from November and up 17.4% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 217.9, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 4.6% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 233, down 0.6% from November but up 21.1% from December 2007.
The price index for Bakery Products in December was 269.2, up 0.3% from November and up 10% from December 2007.
The December index for bread was 165.8, down 0.1% from November but up 11.1% from December 2007. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 304.7, up 0.9% from November and up 10.7% from December 2007. For bread other than white, the index was 313.3, down 1.7% from November but up 11.7% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in December was 158.8, up 0.7% from November and up 11.9% from December 2007. The December index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 248.7, down 0.4% from November but up 8% from December 2007. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 256.1, up 0.2% from November and up 8.2% from December 2007; and cookies, 241, down 1.2% from the previous month but up 7.8% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in December was 240.9, up 0.9% from November and up 9.7% from December 2007. Under this heading, other price indexes in December included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 250.3, up 0.4% from November and up 6.9% from December 2007; crackers and cracker products, 277.9, up 0.8% from November and up 10.8% from December 2007; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 248.7, up 1.6% from November and up 9.5% from the previous year.