WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for baked foods and cereal products increased 0.4% in July, its third consecutive month of gains, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home also finished higher, climbing 0.2%.
Of the 18 items followed by World Grain’s sister publication Milling & Baking News, 13 posted month-over-month gains and five finished lower.


The July index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 275.5% of the 1982-84 average, up 1.3% from a year ago. For all food at home, the July index was 242, up 0.9% from July 2014.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in July was 235.5, down 0.3% from June but up 0.2% from July 2014. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 247.5, down 1.1% from June and down 2.4% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 230.7, up 0.1% from the previous month and up 0.2% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 243.8, down 0.6% from June but up 1.3% from July 2014.

The price index for bakery products in July was 298.1, up 0.7% from June and up 1.8% from July 2014. The July index for bread was 179, down 0.1% from June but up 1.2% from July 2014. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 326, up 0.2% from June and up 2.3% from July 2014. For bread other than white, the index was 342.8, down 0.5% from June and down 0.3% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in July was 176.3, up 1.7% from June and up 3.2% from July 2014. The July index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 279.4, up 0.6% from June and up 2.3% from July 2014. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 291.9, up 0.1% from June and up 2.8% from July 2014; and cookies, 270, up 1.3% from the previous month and up 2.2% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in July was 269.7, up 1.1% from June and up 1.2% from July 2014. Under this heading, other price indexes in July included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 295.5, up 1% from June and up 2.8% from July 2014; crackers and cracker products, 312, up 0.7% from June and up 1.6% from July 2014; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 272.7, up 1.3% from June but down 1.2% from the previous year.