Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 10 posted month-over-month decreases and 8 finished higher.

The May index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 271.9% of the 1982-84 average, down 0.2% from a year ago. For all food at home, the May index was 239.3 up 0.1% from May 2017.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in May was 226.9 down 0.1% from April and down 0.7% from May 2017. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 242.5, up 0.7% from April and up 1.2% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 220.9, up 0.1% from the previous month but down 2% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 235, down 0.7% from April but up 0.2% from May 2017.

The price index for bakery products in May was 297.7, up 0.1% from April and up 0.1% from May 2017.

The May index for bread was 180.1, up 1.5% from April and up 0.8% from May 2017. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 325.2, up 1.7% from April and up 0.3% from May 2017. For bread other than white, the index was 348.9, up 1.2% from April and up 1.1% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in May was 176.4, down 0.3% from April but up 0.2% from May 2017. The May index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 283.3, down 0.6% from April but up 0.1% from May 2017. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 308.9, down 0.3% from April but up 2.3% from May 2017; and cookies, 262.8, down 1% from the previous month and down 2.6% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in May was 263.8, down 0.3% from April and down 0.8% from May 2017. Under this heading, other price indexes in May included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 297.1, down 0.5% from April but up 1.6% from May 2017; crackers and cracker products, 296.4, down 1.2% from April and down 3.2% from May 2017; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 270.7, up 0.3% from April and up 0.4% from the previous year.