Oil price climbs above $90 on stronger US demand

[July 19, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The price of oil on Wednesday briefly hit $90 per barrel for the first time since May after the government said U.S. oil demand is on the rise.

The Energy Information Administration reported that average oil demand increased last week in the U.S. for the third week in a row. Oil demand had been down most of the year, when compared with 2011, as manufacturing activity slowed and drivers cut back on travel.

"We keep talking about the slow economy, but the market is seeing some improved oil demand today," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group.

Benchmark U.S. crude rose by 65 cents to end the day at $89.87 per barrel in New York. It hit $90.04 per barrel earlier in the day, the highest since May 30.

Brent crude, which sets the price for oil imported into the U.S., rose by $1.16 to end at $105.16 per barrel in London.

EIA's weekly petroleum report also noted a surprise drop in gasoline supplies last week as refineries pulled back on production. Oil supplies also fell, though the drop was less than what analysts expected.

Meanwhile, China's biggest companies warned of sharp drops in profits this year. That country's economy is still growing at a much faster clip than Western nations, including the U.S., but Premier Wen Jiabao has warned that the pace of growth will be unstable. China is the second-largest oil consumer in the world behind the U.S., and a slowdown in its economy could cut world oil demand.

U.S. home builders broke ground last month on the most homes and apartments in nearly four years, according to the Commerce Department. The report provided more evidence that the housing market is beginning to recover.

Retail U.S. gasoline prices rose 2 cents to a national average of $3.426 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. The price of regular is up an average 10 cents a gallon since the beginning of July. It's still 51 cents per gallon cheaper than it was during the first week of April.

In other futures trading, heating oil rose by 3.54 cents to end at $2.8776 per gallon, while wholesale gasoline increased by 3.84 cents to finish at $2.8834 per gallon. Natural gas rose by 17.7 cents to end at $2.9730 per 1,000 cubic feet.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS KAHN]

Follow Chris Kahn on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ChrisKahnAP.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.