WASHINGTON — The average price paid for white pan bread increased 4.8¢ per lb in December, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor. The increase follows a decrease of 2.6¢ per lb in November. The price of whole wheat bread also increased, climbing 2.3¢ per lb after falling 4.6¢ in November.

The national average retail price of white pan bread was 202.4¢, up 4.8¢ per lb from November and up 15.1¢ from December 2022.

At 264.7¢ per lb, the national average price for whole wheat bread was up 2.3¢ from November and up 22.8¢ per lb from December 2022.

The national average price of family flour in December was 53.8¢, down 0.3¢ from November but up 1.6¢ from a year ago.

The national average price for spaghetti and macaroni in December was 137.7¢ per lb, up 0.8¢ from November but down 5.7¢ from December 2022. Chocolate chip cookies were 511.7¢ per lb, up 7.3¢ per lb from November and up 14.3¢ from December 2022.