Compared with all other metropolitan cities in the country, Delhi is by far the cheapest to live in, claimed Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday. Reeling off a series of figures to buttress her claim, Ms. Dikshit said while the annual rate of inflation at the national level during 2007 was 6.5 per cent, it was just 4.9 per cent in Delhi. "The rate of inflation this past year was much lower in Delhi compared with other metropolitan cities. While Kolkata recorded 9.1 per cent inflation, Chennai and Mumbai recorded 5.1 per cent and 6.3 per cent respectively,' she added. The Chief Minister said that price rise in the Capital had followed a mixed trend. "There has been a decrease in the retail prices of urad dal, potato, tomato and bottle gourd. The prices of onion, brinjal and okra have remained static and there has been a marginal increase in the prices of whole wheat, wheat flour and gram,' she said, adding that while the price of wheat had risen by 7.3 per cent, fruits and vegetables were dearer by 6.4 per cent, sugar by 5.2 per cent and milk by 8.1 per cent. Ms. Dikshit announced that the Delhi Government would ensure supply of 20 lakh litres of edible oil through the Public Distribution System and expressed confidence that this move would enhance availability of edible oils in the Capital. "This decision has been taken to contain the rising prices of edible oils. The rate of inflation so far as daily consumable items of the common man are concerned comes to 6.14 per cent. This has to be contrasted with the overall rate of inflation of 11.05 per cent due to the marked rise in the prices of cement, steel and petrol. The rate of inflation with respect to pulses is 1.5 per cent, for foodgrains it is 6.1 per cent, and for rice 8.7 per cent,' the Chief Minister added.