WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.4% in September after rising 0.8% in August and 0.1% in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also finished higher, rising 0.6% after gaining 0.7% in August and 0.6% in July.

Of the 18 items tracked by
World Grain’s sister publicationMilling & Baking News, 13 posted month-over-month gains, while five finished lower.

The September index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 264.1% of the 1982-84 average, up 5.3% from a year ago. For all food at home, the September index was 229.7, up 5.9% from September 2010.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in September was 230.8, up 0.6% from August and up 6.2% from September 2010. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 248.3, up 0.9% from August and up 9.9% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 227.3, up 0.5% from the previous month and up 5.8% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 235.9, up 0.6% from August and up 5.4% from September 2010.

The price index for bakery products in September was 281.8, up 0.4% from August and up 4.9% from September 2010.

The September index for bread was 170.9, up 0.2% from August and up 6.8% from September 2010. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 308.1, down 0.6% from August but up 4.6% from September 2010. For bread other than white, the index was 336.1, up 1.6% from August and up 10.4% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in September was 166.9, up 1.6% from August and up 8% from September 2010. The September index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 258.8, up 1% from August and up 3.5% from September 2010. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 270.4, up 0.2% from August and up 5.1% from September 2010; and cookies, 246.6, up 1.9% from the previous month and up 1.5% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in September was 256.9, down 0.6% from August but up 2.8% from September 2010. Under this heading, other price indexes in September included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 268, down 0.7% from August but up 4.4% from September 2010; crackers and cracker products, 297.4, down 0.1% from August but up 2.6% from September 2010; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 265.7, down 1.7% from August but up 4% from the previous year.