WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products decreased 0.5% in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home decreased 0.1%.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, a sister publication of World Grain, 10 posted month-over-month decreases, 7 finished higher and 1 was unchanged.

The October index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 272.3% of the 1982-84 average, up 0.5% from a year ago. For all food at home, the October index was 239.9, up 0.2% from October 2017.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in October was 224.1, down 2% from September and down 1.2% from October 2017. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 231.5, down 4.3% from September and down 1.7% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 220.3, down 0.7% from the previous month and down 1.7% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 231.9, down 2.8% from September and down 0.5% from October 2017.

The price index for bakery products in October was 300.1, up 0.2% from September and up 1.3% from October 2017.

The October index for bread was 179.7, up 0.3% from September and up 1.5% from October 2017. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 325.8, up 1% from September and up 1.6% from October 2017. For bread other than white, the index was 348.4, unchanged from September and up 1.5% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in October was 179.3, down 0.4% from September but up 1.7% from October 2017. The October index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 287.6, up 0.7% from September and up 2.2% from October 2017. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 310, up 0.7% from September and up 2.6% from October 2017; and cookies, 269.9, up 0.6% from the previous month and up 1.1% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in October was 265.8, down 0.2% from September but up 0.3% from October 2017. Under this heading, other price indexes in October included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 303.7, up 1.2% from September and up 2.8% from October 2017; crackers and cracker products, 301.1, down 0.6% from September and down 1% from October 2017; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 269.8, down 0.1% from September but up 0.7% from the previous year.