General Mills Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by sales of new items such as chocolate Cheerios cereal and the company's continuing focus on cost cuts.

The better-than-expected results were also supported by lower commodity costs, even as General Mills boosted advertising and media spending 33 percent.

The company also raised its full-year earnings forecast, though the new forecast was a hair below analysts estimates.

Sales volume during the quarter was flat, the latest sign of pressure on branded food makers as consumers buy lower-priced private-label items. The divestment of some products cut volume 1 percentage point, the company said.

The company, which also makes Yoplait yogurt and Progresso soup, posted a profit of $332.5 million, or 96 cents a share, for the third quarter that ended February 28, compared with $288.9 million, or 85 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding one-time items, earnings were 97 cents a share. Analysts on average had forecast 93 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Sales rose 2.6 percent to $3.63 billion.

For the year, General Mills now sees earnings of $4.57 to $4.59 a share, excluding one-time items. That compares with its previous forecast of $4.52 to $4.57 and with analysts' estimates of $4.60.

(Reporting by Brad Dorfman; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Maureen Bavdek)