WASHINGTON – The Consumer Price Index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs fell for the third consecutive month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor said in its most-recent CPI report. Overall, the food index for September was unchanged after rising 0.1% in August.

The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs fell 0.4% in September, the agency said. Over the last 12 months, the index for the food group rose 6.3%.

The index for food away from home continued to rise, increasing 0.6% in September while the index for food at home fell 0.4% as five of the six major grocery store food group indexes declined, BLS said.

The limited-service meals index recorded an increase of 0.9% — the largest increase in the history of the index — which dates to 1997. The index for full-service meals rose 0.3% in September.

The index for other food at home declined 0.6% in September after rising 0.5% in August.

In September, the index for cereals and bakery products was the only major grocery store food group index not to decline. BLS said the index for fruits and vegetables declined 0.4 % in September as the index for fresh fruits fell 1.3%.

And the index for dairy and related products declined 0.5% in September after rising 1.5% in August.

Over the past 12 months, the food at home index increased 4.1%, BLS said in its report. All six major grocery store food group indexes advanced over that period, with increases ranging from 2.6% for cereals and bakery products to 6.3% for meats, poultry, fish and eggs.

The index for food away from home rose 3.8% over the last year. The index for limited-service meals increased 5.5%, and the index for full service meals rose 2.8% over the same period.