WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products fell 0.3% in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home advanced 0.3%.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, a sister publication of World Grain, 12 posted month-over-month decreases and 6 finished higher.

The October index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 276.5% of the 1982-84 average, up 1.5% from a year ago. For all food at home, the October index was 242.3, up 1% from October 2018.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in October was 226, down 0.4% from September but up 0.8% from October 2018. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 232.8, down 2.5% from September but up 0.6% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 220.4, up 0.1% from the previous month and up 0.1% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 236.5, down 0.5% from September but up 1.9% from October 2018.

The price index for bakery products in October was 305.7, down 0.2% from September but up 1.8% from October 2018.

The October index for bread was 185.2, up 0.1% from September and up 3% from October 2018. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 336.3, down 0.1% from September but up 3.1% from October 2018. For bread other than white, the index was 359.2, up 0.3% from September and up 3% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in October was 180.5, up 0.5% from September and up 0.7% from October 2018. The October index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 289.9, down 1% from September but up 0.8% from October 2018. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 310.4, down 2.5% from September but up 0.1% from October 2018; and cookies, 274, down 0.3% from the previous month but up 1.5% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in October was 271.6, down 0.3% from September but up 2.1% from October 2018. Under this heading, other price indexes in October included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 312.2, up 0.2% from September and up 2.7% from October 2018; crackers and cracker products, 311.2, down 0.1% from September but up 3.2% from October 2018; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 268.9, down 0.6% from September and down 0.3% from the previous year.