WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.4% in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also increased, rising 0.1%.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 11 posted month-over-month gains, 6 finished lower and 1 was unchanged.
The May index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 277.8% of the 1982-84 average, up 2.1% from a year ago. For all food at home, the May index was 242.1, up 1.1% from May 2018.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in May was 228.3, down 0.2% from April but up 0.6% from May 2018. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 238.9, up 1.2% from April but down 1.5% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 222.8, down 0.6% from the previous month but up 0.9% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 237.4, down 0.2% from April but up 1% from May 2018.
The price index for bakery products in May was 306.4, up 0.7% from April and up 2.8% from May 2018.
The May index for bread was 184.1, down 0.2% from April but up 2.2% from May 2018. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 333.1, down 0.2% from April but up 2.4% from May 2018. For bread other than white, the index was 360, up 0.3% from April and up 3.1% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in May was 181.1, up 0.9% from April and up 2.6% from May 2018. The May index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 292.3, up 0.7% from April and up 3.1% from May 2018. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 317.8, unchanged from April but up 2.8% from May 2018; and cookies, 272.9, up 1.3% from the previous month and up 3.7% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in May was 272.8, up 1.4% from April and up 3.3% from May 2018. Under this heading, other price indexes in May included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 314.2, up 1.2% from April and up 5.4% from May 2018; crackers and cracker products, 310.5, up 2.8% from April and up 4.5% from May 2018; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 272.1, down 0.1% from April but up 0.5% from the previous year.