Crude oil prices rose above $72 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange Friday, as demand from motorists climbed despite rising gas prices.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday demand for motor gasoline has averaged 9.3 million barrels per day over the past four weeks, a 1.1 percent rise from the same period of 2008.
On Friday, crude oil prices gained 75 cents to $72.12 per barrel. Heating oil prices gained 0.0175 cents to $1.8545 per gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline rose 0.003 cents to $2.0325 per gallon. Natural gas prices 0.033 cents to $4.126 per million British thermal units.
At the pump, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $2.69 Friday, up from Thursday's $2.685 a gallon, AAA said.
