WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The average price paid for white pan bread in the U.S. increased in May while the price for whole wheat bread fell, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.
The national average retail price of white pan bread was 140.1¢, up 1.3¢ per lb from April but unchanged from May 2013. On a month-to-month basis, the average price for white pan bread in May increased in two regions — up 6.2¢ in the West and up 5.3¢ in the Northeast — and fell in two regions — down 3.7¢ in the Midwest and down 2.5¢ in the South.
At 201.6¢ per lb, the national average price for whole wheat bread was down 7.6¢ per lb from April and down 5.5¢ per lb from May 2013.
The national average price of family flour in May was 53.2¢ per lb, down 1.5¢ from April but up 0.2¢ from May 2013.
The national average price for spaghetti and macaroni in May was 130.1¢ per lb, up 6¢ from April but down 7¢ from May 2013. Chocolate chip cookies were 339.1¢ per lb, down 18.8¢ from April and down 3.7 from May 2013. The national average price of white long-grain rice was 73.9¢ per lb, down 1.1¢ from April but up 3.7¢ from May 2013.