Within weeks of the central government adopting steps to control the price rise, retail prices of essential food items have fallen in metros including Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

According to the ministry of consumer affairs, a price analysis of the 14 essential commodities shows that prices of food items that include edible oil, vanaspati, potato and onion, declined in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. However, prices in Kolkata have not come down.

According to the analysis, the maximum fall was seen in the prices of edible oil, which fell by over 11 per cent in the national capital. The other commodities had a 3 to 7 per cent drop in prices. Delhi recorded the maximum decline in the price of mustard oil as it came down to Rs 71 from Rs 80 per litre.