NEW YORK, June 29 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices headed higher in New York, topping $95 per barrel Wednesday with the market looking suddenly stronger.
The Energy Information Administration said U.S. oil inventories dropped by 4.4 million barrels to 359.5 million barrels in the week ending June 24.
The drop exceeded expectations, punching the price of West Texas Intermediate crude 2 percent higher on the New York Mercantile Exchange to $95.03 per barrel.
Early Wednesday, Greece secured passage of critical austerity measures, a positive sign for those worried Greece could fall into default, as the budget bill all but guarantees the European Union will cooperate with international assistance for the debt-burdened country.
In New York, home heating oil prices added 0.53 cents to $2.94 per gallon. Reformulated gasoline prices gained 0.21 cents in late trading to $2.937 per gallon.
Henry Hub natural gas prices added 0.3 cents to $4.318 per million British thermal units.
At the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline lost 0.8 cents Wednesday to reach $3.543 per gallon, AAA said.
