WASHINGTON — A month after rising 0.4%, the Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products fell back 0.4% in June, its sharpest month-over-month decline since it fell 0.5% in September 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also fell for the first time in three months, easing 0.2% in June after rising 0.1% in April and May and 0.2% in March.

In sharp contrast to the previous month, the index was lower for 13 of the 18 products tracked by Milling & Baking News. By comparison, the index was higher for 14 of the 18 products tracked during May.
The June index for cereals and bakery products before seasonal adjustment was 250.3% of the 1982-84 average, down 0.4% from a year ago. For all food at home, the June index was 215.4, up 0.2% from June 2009.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in June was 217.1, down 0.5% from May and down 1.9% from June 2009. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 222.7, down 0.6% from May and down 5.6% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 214.9, down 1.1% from the previous month and down 0.9% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 223.5, up 0.4% from May but down 2.4% from June 2009.

The price index for bakery products in June was 267.9, down 0.4% from May and down 0.7% from June 2009.

The June index for bread was 161.3, up 0.9% from May but down 0.9% from June 2009. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 293.3, up 0.9% from May but down 2.1% from June 2009. For bread other than white, the index was 309.4, up 0.7% from May and up 0.3% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in June was 151.6, down 0.8% from May and down 2.8% from June 2009. The June index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 251.1, down 0.3% from May and down 0.2% from June 2009. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 256.9, up 0.1% from May but down 0.4% from June 2009; and cookies, 245.6, down 0.2% from the previous month but up 0.3% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in June was 247.1, down 1.2% from May and down 0.3% from June 2009. Under this heading, other price indexes in June included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 250.3, down 2.2% from May and down 0.2% from June 2009; crackers and cracker products, 285.1, down 1.3% from May and down 1.3% from June 2009; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 259.3, down 0.2% from May and down 0.5% from the previous year.