WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.3% in February, its second straight month of such a gain, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also rose, increasing 0.3%.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, a sister publication of World Grain, 14 posted month-over-month gains and 4 finished lower.

The February index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 276% of the 1982-84 average, up 1.7% from a year ago. For all food at home, the February index was 242.1, up 1.2% from February 2018.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in February was 226.8, up 0.6% from January and up 0.2% from February 2018. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 235.8, down 0.5% from January and down 2.5% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 221.6, up 0.9% from the previous month and up 1.1% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 236.1, up 0.5% from January and up 0.1% from February 2018.

The price index for bakery products in February was 304.4, up 0.2% from January and up 2.4% from February 2018.

The February index for bread was 183.2, up 0.4% from January and up 3.8% from February 2018. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 332, up 0.2% from January and up 4.4% from February 2018. For bread other than white, the index was 356.9, up 0.5% from January and up 3.9% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in February was 181.4, down 0.8% from January but up 2.3% from February 2018. The February index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 291.7, up 0.7% from January and up 1.2% from February 2018. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 314.6, up 0.3% from January and up 2.7% from February 2018; and cookies, 273.5, up 1.1% from the previous month and up 0.2% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in February was 268.7, up 0.1% from January and up 2.2% from February 2018. Under this heading, other price indexes in February included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 309.3, up 1.2% from January and up 3.8% from February 2018; crackers and cracker products, 306.5, up 0.3% from January and up 2.8% from February 2018; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 268.8, down 0.3% from January but up 0.3% from the previous year.