General Mills Hikes Cereal Prices

That healthy start to the day is going to cost a little more.

General Mills Inc., the nation’s No. 2 cereal maker, raised the price of some breakfast cereals by an average of 2.6 percent, the first major boost in its cereal prices since 1993.

The producer of Cheerios, Wheaties, Lucky Charms and Trix says the increase, which took effect Wednesday, was necessary because of rising costs.

Consumers will pay an average of about 7 to 10 cents more per box, spokesman David Dix said Thursday. The hike will not affect all General Mills brands, but the company would not identify which would see higher prices.

General Mills has cut cereal prices 10 percent to 20 percent on more than 90 percent of its brands from 1993 to 1996, while ingredients, packaging and other expenses have risen by about 12 percent, Dix said.

Prices still will be below 1993 levels, he said.