NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil is up slightly after earlier gains of more than 1 percent evaporated.
Benchmark oil is up 9 cents to $85.82 a barrel at midday in New York after rising as high as $86.75 Thursday morning. The price dropped in each of the previous five trading sessions. Brent crude is up 51 cents to $108.36 a barrel in London.
Cheaper oil, as well as falling gasoline futures, means more relief for U.S. drivers. Pump prices fell another 2 cents overnight to a national average of $3.60 a gallon. Gas was at $3.74 just a week ago.
Meanwhile, natural gas prices are down 1.5 percent to $3.40 per 1,000 cubic feet after the government said supplies of the fuel rose last week.