Crude oil jumps close to $97

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NEW YORK, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices jumped close to $97 per barrel Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange with strong demand prompted by winter weather.

After starting out the day with a drop that took it closer to $95, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for March delivery wound up adding $1.17 from Friday's close to hit $96.94 per barrel.

Reformulated blendstock gasoline lost 2.32 cents to $3.0225 per gallon. Heating oil shed 0.15 cents to $3.231 per gallon.

Natural gas was up 2.5 cents to $3.29 per million British thermal units.

At the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline, up for eight consecutive weeks, rose to $3.587 per gallon from Sunday's $3.582 per gallon, AAA said.