Energy prices close up

NEW YORK, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil prices closed higher Wednesday as traders focused on data expected to show declines in U.S. gasoline and heating oil supplies.

Crude prices rose for the second consecutive session on the New York Mercantile Exchanges, adding $1.04 and closed at $81.30 a barrel.

"Forecasts for colder U.S. winter weather, along with concerns over relatively low inventory levels brought buyers into the spotlight again, and from here, focus will shift to the Thursday release of weekly ... inventory data," analysts at Action Economics told MarketWatch.

Three other energy commodities also closed higher.

Natural gas also finished up, closing at $7.0100 per million British thermal units, a change of $0.1470 cents. The per-gallon price for home heating oil finished at $2.2172, an increase of $0.0319 cents.

Gasoline ended the session up $0.0134, closing at $2.0336.

No change was reported at the gas pump Wednesday. The AAA Fuel Gauge Report indicated the price for a gallon of unleaded gas was $2.765, the same as Tuesday.