The Consumer Price Index for baked foods and cereal products fell 0.2%, easing to 267.8 in August from 268.4 in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor. The index for all food at home, meanwhile, increased 0.2% after finishing down 0.1% in July.

Of the 18 items followed by Milling & Baking News, 6 posted month-over-month gains, 11 finished lower and one was unchanged.

The August index for Cereals and Bakery Products before seasonal adjustment was 267.8% of the 1982-84 average, up 1.8% from a year ago. For all food at home, the August index was 231.7, up 1.4% from August 2011.

The CPI for cereals and cereal products in August was 233.6, down 0.3% from July but up 1.8% from August 2011. The index for products within this category included: flour and prepared mixes, 256.7, down 0.5% from July but up 4.1% from the previous year; breakfast cereal, 228.5, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 1% from a year ago; and rice, pasta and corn meal, 239.3, down 0.8% from July but up 2% from August 2011.

The price index for bakery products in August was 286.5, down 0.2% from July but up 1.9% from August 2011.

The August index for bread was 172.3, down 1.5% from July but up 0.9% from August 2011. Under this heading, the CPI for white bread was 316.2, down 0.8% from July but up 1.9% from August 2011. For bread other than white, the index was 329.6, down 2.3% from July and down 0.3% from a year ago.

The price index for fresh biscuits, rolls and muffins in August was 167, unchanged from July and up 1.6% from August 2011. The August index for cakes, cupcakes and cookies was 264.6, down 0.5% from July but up 3.2% from August 2011. Under this segment, other price indexes included fresh cakes and cupcakes, 275.4, up 0.3% from July and up 2% from August 2011; and cookies, 254.5, down 1.3% from the previous month but up 4.9% from the previous year.

The CPI for other bakery products in August was 262.9, up 1.2% from July and up 1.7% from August 2011. Under this heading, other price indexes in August included: fresh sweet rolls, coffee cakes and donuts, 279.4, up 2.6% from July and up 3.3% from August 2011; crackers and cracker products, 307.2, up 0.6% from July and up 3.1% from August 2011; and frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts and turnovers, 269.3, up 1.4% from July but down 0.3% from the previous year.