WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products increased 0.4% to 267.8 in October from 266.7 in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also gained 0.4%, after finishing down 0.1% in September.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 13 posted month-over-month gains and 5 finished lower.
The October index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 267.8% of the 1982-84 average, up 0.9% from a year ago. For all food at home, the October index was 232.5, up 1% from October 2011.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in October was 230.3, up 0.1% from September and up 0.1% from October 2011. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 252.6, down 0.7% from September but up 2.7% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 226.3, up 0.9% from the previous month and up 1.1% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 233.8, down 1.4% from September and down 3.1% from October 2011.
The price index for bakery products in October was 288.9, up 0.7% from September and up 1.6% from October 2011.
The October index for bread was 175.3, up 1.3% from September and up 1.1% from October 2011. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 319.2, up 1.8% from September and up 1.1% from October 2011. For bread other than white, the index was 338, up 1.1% from September and up 0.4% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in October was 168.2, up 0.1% from September but down 0.1% from October 2011. The October index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 269.1, up 1.8% from September and up 2.9% from October 2011. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 281.6, up 2.6% from September and up 3.8% from October 2011; and cookies, 258.5, up 1.1% from the previous month and up 2.8% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in October was 261.9, down 0.5% from September but up 1.7% from October 2011. Under this heading, other price indexes in October included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 280.4, up 1.2% from September and up 3.5% from October 2011; crackers and cracker products, 303.7, down 0.8% from September but up 1.1% from October 2011; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 268, down 1.1% from September but up 0.6% from the previous year.