WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for baked foods and cereal products decreased 0.7% in November, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also finished lower, falling 0.7%.
Of the 18 items followed by World Grain’s sister publication Milling & Baking News, 14 posted month-over-month decreases, while four finished higher.
The November index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 273.8% of the 1982-84 average, up 1.3% from a year ago. For all food at home, the November index was 242.2, up 0.2% from November 2014.
The CPI for cereals and cereal products in November was 231.8, down 1.2% from October but up 0.1% from November 2014. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 232.5, down 3.6% from October and down 2.9% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 229.9, down 1% from the previous month and down 0.6% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 240.1, down 0.7% from October but up 2.2% from November 2014.
The price index for bakery products in November was 297.5, down 0.5% from October but up 1.8% from November 2014.
The November index for bread was 179.9, up 0.4% from October and up 2.2% from November 2014. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 323.4, down 0.2% from October but up 1.7% from November 2014. For bread other than white, the index was 350, up 0.9% from October and up 2.9% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in November was 178, down 0.3% from October but up 2.2% from November 2014. The November index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 281.8, down 0.1% from October but up 1.7% from November 2014. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 299, up 0.2% from October and up 4.7% from November 2014; and cookies, 268.7, down 0.5% from the previous month and down 0.5% from the previous year.
The CPI for other bakery products in November was 263.7, down 1.7% from October but up 1.3% from November 2014. Under this heading, other price indexes in November included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 298.6, up 0.8% from October and up 4.1% from November 2014; crackers and cracker products, 301.4, down 2.4% from October but up 0.6% from November 2014; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 265, down 1.9% from October and down 0.3% from the previous year.
