WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products fell 0.3% in April, its first month-over-month decline since October 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also eased, decreasing 0.3%.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 12 posted month-over-month declines, 5 finished higher and 1 was unchanged.

The April index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 276.6% of the 1982-84 average, up 1.7% from a year ago. For all food at home, the April index was 241.9, up 0.7% from April 2018.

The C.P.I. for cereals and cereal products in April was 228.7, down 0.7% from March but up 0.7% from April 2018. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 236, down 0.7% from March and down 2% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 224.1, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 1.5% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 237.9, down 1.4% from March but up 0.5% from April 2018.

The price index for bakery products in April was 304.2, unchanged from March but up 2.2% from April 2018.

The April index for bread was 184.4, up 0.7% from March and up 3.8% from April 2018. Under this heading, the C.P.I. for white bread was 333.9, up 1.2% from March and up 4.3% from April 2018. For bread other than white, the index was 359.1, down 0.1% from March but up 4% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in April was 179.4, down 1.5% from March but up 1.4% from April 2018. The April index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 290.3, up 0.1% from March and up 1.8% from April 2018. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 317.8, down 0.1% from March but up 2.5% from April 2018; and cookies, 269.3, up 0.2% from the previous month and up 1.4% from the previous year.

The C.P.I. for other bakery products in April was 269, down 0.1% from March but up 1.7% from April 2018. Under this heading, other price indexes in April included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 310.5, down 0.2% from March but up 3.9% from April 2018; crackers and cracker products, 301.8, down 0.6% from March but up 0.6% from April 2018; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 272.5, up 0.5% from March and up 1% from the previous year.