WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products held steady in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home increased 0.1%.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, a sister publication of World Grain, 9 posted month-over-month increases, 8 finished higher and 1 was unchanged.

The August index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 273.3% of the 1982-84 average, up 0.3% from a year ago. For all food at home, the August index was 240, up 0.5% from August 2017.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in August was 228.6 up 0.3% from July and up 0.1% from August 2017. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 240.1, down 0.8% from July but up 0.3% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 221.1, up 0.6% from the previous month but down 1.2% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 240, up 0.3% from July and up 1.4% from August 2017.

The price index for bakery products in August was 299, down 0.1% from July but up 0.4% from August 2017.

The August index for bread was 180.1, up 0.4% from July and up 0.5% from August 2017. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 324.8, up 0.3% from July but down 0.1% from August 2017. For bread other than white, the index was 350.4, up 0.2% from July and up 1.1% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in August was 177.9, up 0.3% from July and up 2.3% from August 2017. The August index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 283.8, down 0.9% from July but up 0.4% from August 2017. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 306.9, down 0.7% from July but up 1.8% from August 2017; and cookies, 265.1, down 1% from the previous month but up 1.4% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in August was 266, down 0.1% from July and down 0.6% from August 2017. Under this heading, other price indexes in August included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 299.4, down 1.1% from July but up 1.2% from August 2017; crackers and cracker products, 306.3, up 0.7% from July but down 0.3% from August 2017; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 265.6, down 1.1% from July and down 2.1% from the previous year.