Of the 18 items followed by World Grain’s sister publication Milling & Baking News, 11 posted month-over-month declines, while 7 finished higher.
The February index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 271.7% of the 1982-84 average, down 1.1% from a year ago. For all food at home, the February index was 237.9 down 1.8% from February 2016.
The CPI for cereals and cereal products in February was 229.2 down 0.1% from January and down 2.1% from February 2016. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 237.6, down 1% from January and down 3% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 226.2, up 0.5% from the previous month but down 1.5% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 236.1, down 0.6% from January and down 2.5% from February 2016.
The price index for bakery products in February was 295.9, down 0.6% from January and down 0.7% from February 2016.
The February index for bread was 178.6, up 0.3% from January but down 0.6% from February 2016. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 325.5, up 0.4% from January and up 0.3% from February 2016. For bread other than white, the index was 343.4, up 0.5% from January but down 1.3% from a year ago.
The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in February was 172.9, down 1.8% from January and down 2.2% from February 2016. The February index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 282.4, down 1.1% from January but up 0.3% from February 2016. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 303.9, up 0.4% from January and up 1.8% from February 2016; and cookies, 266.3, down 2.3% from the previous month and down 0.9% from the previous year.
The CPI for other bakery products in February was 263.9, down 0.6% from January and down 0.9% from February 2016. Under this heading, other price indexes in February included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 293.9, up 1.4% from January but down 0.5% from February 2016; crackers and cracker products, 303.2, down 0.9% from January and down 1% from February 2016; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 265.6, down 1.5% from January and down 1.2% from the previous year.
