Crude oil fell as a report showed that U.S. home prices tumbled the most on record, signaling that the recession in the world’s biggest energy-consuming country is deepening. Oil prices dropped as much as 4.1 percent today after the S&P/Case-Shiller index showed that home prices in 20 U.S. cities declined 18.2 percent in November from a year earlier. An Energy Department report tomorrow will show that U.S. crude-oil inventories rose for a 16th time in 18 weeks, according to the median of analyst estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. “We continue to get weak economic news,” said Rick Mueller, director of oil markets at Energy Security Analysis Inc. in Wakefield, Massachusetts. “If tomorrow’s DOE numbers show another big inventory gain, it’s hard to see how oil can stay at the $45 level.” Crude oil for March delivery fell $1.53, or 3.4 percent, to $44.20 a barrel at 9:30 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices are down 1 percent this year and are 51 percent lower than a year ago. The Energy Department is scheduled to release its weekly report tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. in Washington. “We are moving within a range,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, vice president for energy at MF Global Ltd. in New York. “Prices are stuck between the low $30s and $50. We will need some news of significant import before prices will break out.” Brent crude oil for March settlement declined $1.98, or 4.2 percent, to $44.98 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures Europe exchange.

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