Crude oil climbs above $99 per barrel

NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices climbed above $99 per barrel Tuesday after Eurostat said quarter to quarter economic growth in Europe slowed in the third quarter.

In the 17-member eurozone, gross domestic product growth slowed to 0.2 percent quarter to quarter. In France, the economy grew 0.4 percent, while in Germany gross domestic product growth hit 0.5 percent from the second quarter.

In four nations -- Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Spain -- growth was flat. In the Netherlands, the economy turned from 0.2 percent growth to 0.3 percent contraction.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, a rally in oil prices slowed in morning trading, then picked up steam with West Texas Intermediate for December delivery adding $1.07 to $99.21 per barrel.

Home heating oil prices rose 0.43 cents to $3.1756 per gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline shed 0.57 cents to $2.58 per gallon.

Henry Hub natural gas prices added 0.2 cents to $3.406 per million British thermal units.

At the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline fell to $3.411 per gallon Tuesday from Monday's $3.417, AAA said.