WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products fell 0.1% in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home increased 0.3%.
Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 11 posted month-over-month decreases and 7 finished higher.
The July index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 272% of the 1982-84 average, down 0.5% from a year ago. For all food at home, the July index was 239, up 0.3% from July 2016.
The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in July was 228.5, up 0.4% from June but down 2% from July 2016. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 240.7, up 1.6% from June but down 2.4% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 225.3, up 0.4% from the previous month but down 1.7% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 234.3, down 0.1% from June and down 2.9% from July 2016.
The price index for bakery products in July was 296.8, down 0.4% from June but up 0.3% from July 2016.
The July index for bread was 177.6, down 1.4% from June and down 0.5% from July 2016. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 323.2, down 1% from June and down 0.2% from July 2016. For bread other than white, the index was 342.2, down 1.9% from June and down 0.7% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in July was 174.4, down 0.4% from June but up 0.1% from July 2016. The July index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 282.1, down 0.2% from June but up 1.1% from July 2016. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 304.4, up 0.6% from June and up 1.7% from July 2016; and cookies, 265.5, down 0.5% from the previous month but up 0.5% from the previous year.
The C.P.I. for other bakery products in July was 266.9, up 0.3% from June and up 0.6% from July 2016. Under this heading, other price indexes in July included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 292.3, down 0.3% from June and down 1.1% from July 2016; crackers and cracker products, 307.2, down 0.6% from June but up 0.4% from July 2016; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 272.4, up 1.2% from June and up 2.1% from the previous year.
