Crude oil gains pushed by China

Crude oil prices regained $101 per barrel in New York with help from positive economic data from China. China's gross domestic product rose from 7.5 percent to 7.8 percent in the third quarter from the second, the government said. With the gain expected, the market may have already priced the increase into the oil market, but confirmation of the figures put crude oil on an upward track. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate crude oil added 60 cents to reach $101.27 per barrel. Reformulated blendstock gasoline prices gained 2.46 cents to $2.6725 per gallon. Home heating oil added 3.08 cents to $3.0208 per gallon. Natural gas lost 5 cents to reach $3.70 per million British thermal units. At the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline was unchanged from Thursday to Friday, holding at $3.60 per gallon, AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report said.