WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for baked foods and cereal products decreased 0.2% in August, its first month-over-month decline since April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home, meanwhile, finished higher, climbing 0.3%.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, World Grain’s sister publication, 11 posted month-over-month declines, 6 finished higher and one was unchanged.

The August index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 275% of the 1982-84 average, up 1.1% from a year ago. For all food at home, the August index was 242.7, up 0.3% from August 2014.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in August was 235, down 0.2% from July but up 0.3% from August 2014. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 246.9, down 0.2% from July and down 3% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 230.3, down 0.2% from the previous month but up 0.7% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 243.1, down 0.3% from July but up 0.8% from August 2014.

The price index for bakery products in August was 297.5, down 0.2% from July but up 1.4% from August 2014.

The August index for bread was 178.1, down 0.5% from July but up 0.6% from August 2014. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 321.3, down 1.4% from July but up 0.5% from August 2014. For bread other than white, the index was 345.2, up 0.7% from July and up 0.6% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in August was 175.9, down 0.2% from July but up 2.4% from August 2014. The August index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 280.1, up 0.2% from July and up 2.6% from August 2014. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 293.6, up 0.6% from July and up 3.7% from August 2014; and cookies, 270, unchanged from the previous month and up 1.6% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in August was 269.1, down 0.2% from July but up 0.8% from August 2014. Under this heading, other price indexes in August included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 296.9, up 0.5% from July and up 1.2% from August 2014; crackers and cracker products, 313, up 0.3% from July and up 0.9% from August 2014; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 270.9, down 0.7% from July and down 0.1% from the previous year.