bagel and granola bar
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products rose 0.4% in March, led higher by the largest month-over-month increase in the bread index since 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The index for all food at home was unchanged.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, a sister publication of World Grain, 11 posted month-over-month increases, 6 finished lower, and 1 was unchanged.

The March index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 272.3% of the 1982-84 average, up 0.1% from a year ago. For all food at home, the March index was 239.2 up 0.4% from March 2017.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in March was 226, down 0.1% from February and down 1.1% from March 2017. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 238.7, down 1.2% from February and down 0.1% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 220.1, up 0.4% from the previous month but down 2.5% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 235.1, down 0.3% from February but up 0.4% from March 2017.

The price index for bakery products in March was 299, up 0.7% from February and up 0.6% from March 2017.

The March index for bread was 180, up 2.1% from February and up 1.4% from March 2017. The month-over-month increase was the largest gain since the index advanced 2.6% in February 2008. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 325, up 2.3% from February and up 0.6% from March 2017. For bread other than white, the index was 347.6, up 1.4% from February and up 1.8% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in March was 178.6, up 0.7% from February and up 1% from March 2017. The March index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 287.6, down 0.2% from February but up 1.9% from March 2017. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 308.3, up 0.7% from February and up 2% from March 2017; and cookies, 270.6, down 0.9% from the previous month but up 1.4% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in March was 263.1, up 0.1% from February but down 1.3% from March 2017. Under this heading, other price indexes in March included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 298.9, up 0.4% from February and up 1.4% from March 2017; crackers and cracker products, 300.3, up 0.8% from February but down 2.5% from March 2017; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 264.9, down 1.1% from February and down 1.2% from the previous year.