WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The average price paid for U.S. white pan bread increased in March while the price for whole wheat bread decreased, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The national average retail price of white pan bread was 141.2¢, up 0.1¢ per pound from February and up 1.7¢ from March 2012. The increase followed a decrease of 1.1¢ per pound in February. On a month-to-month basis, the average price for white pan bread in March rose in two regions — up 2.6¢ in the South and up 2.1¢ in the Northeast — and fell in two regions — down 4.5¢ in the West and down 1.6¢ in the Midwest.

At 202.4¢ per pound, the national average price for whole wheat bread was down 0.1¢ per pound from February and down 3.2¢ per pound from March 2012.

The national average price of family flour in March was 49.9¢ per pound, down 2.5¢from February and down 2¢ from March 2012.

The national average price for spaghetti and macaroni in March was 132.3¢ per pound, down 2.5¢ from February but up 5.2¢ from March 2012. Chocolate chip cookies were 377.4¢ per pound, up 14.9¢ from February and up 29.1¢ from March 2012. The national average price of white long-grain rice was 71.4¢ per pound, up 0.6¢ from February and up 1.4¢ from March 2012.