The Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that prices of essential commodities have started softening and food inflation will decline in the coming months. He said indications of softening food inflation are clearly visible and they expected to decline in the coming months uninterruptedly.<br/><br/>In his opening remarks after introducing the Finance Bill in Lok Sabha today the Finance Minister said food inflation has declined from over 20 per cent in December last year to 17.7 per cent in March this year.<br/><br/>Recalling steps taken by the government to deal with general inflation which risen to 9.9 per cent in March, Mr. Mukherjee said the government is committed to continue with the fiscal consolidation programme and gradually reduce the fiscal deficit.