NEW YORK Nov 24 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures held on to most of their gains on Wednesday after economic reports showed U.S. jobless claims dipped last week and durable goods orders fell.
Data also showed personal income rose more than expected in October, while personal spending increased, but less than expected.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, January crude CLF1 rose 38 cents, or 0.47 percent, to $81.63 a barrel by 8:38 a.m. EST (1338 GMT), trading from $80.97 to $81.88. Prices were up about 44 cents when the reports were released. (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by Dale Hudson)