WASHINGTON — Per capita consumption of flour in 2017 was 131.8 lbs, nearly unchanged from 131.7 lbs in 2016, according to data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. The figures compare with 133 lbs in 2015, 134.7 lbs in 2014 and 135 lbs in 2013. While 2017 ended a three-year streak of per capita consumption declines, the figures in both 2016 and 2017 were the smallest since 130 lbs in 1990. The recent peak for per capita consumption was seven years later — 147 lbs in 1997.

Flour production in 2017 was a record 426,396,000 cwts, up 0.6% from 423,846,000 cwts in 2016. The increase was smaller than the 0.77% growth in the U.S. population in 2017 to 327,997,000 (calendar-year average). The failure of flour production to keep pace with population gains was offset by a 16% decrease in flour exports in 2017 to 6,190,000 cwts from 7,368,000 cwts in 2016.