baked bread products and cereal
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.9% in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also rose, increasing 0.5%.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, a sister publication of World Grain, 13 posted month-over-month gains, 5 finished lower and 1 was unchanged.

The January index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 272.3% of the 1982-84 average, down 0.2% from a year ago. For all food at home, the January index was 239.8 up 1% from January 2017.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in January was 226.5 up 0.6% from December but down 1.3% from January 2017. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 238.9, up 4.7% from December but down 0.4% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 222.5, down 0.7% from the previous month and down 1.1% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 232.8, up 0.7% from December but down 2% from January 2017.

The price index for bakery products in January was 298.6, up 1.1% from December and up 0.3% from January 2017.

bread and wheat
 
The January index for bread was 177.2, down 0.5% from December and down 0.5% from January 2017. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 319.3, down 1% from December and down 1.5% from January 2017. For bread other than white, the index was 345.2, down 0.2% from December but up 1% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in January was 178.2, down 0.3% from December but up 1.2% from January 2017. The January index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 288.7, up 2.1% from December and up 1.1% from January 2017. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 306.5, up 0.7% from December and up 1.2% from January 2017; and cookies, 273.6, up 3.1% from the previous month and up 0.3% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in January was 265, up 2.3% from December but down 0.2% from January 2017. Under this heading, other price indexes in January included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 294.9, up 0.8% from December and up 1.7% from January 2017; crackers and cracker products, 301.4, up 2.6% from December but down 1.6% from January 2017; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 270.3, up 2.6% from December and up 0.2% from the previous year.