Oil prices steady overnight

Crude oil prices held steady near $95 per barrel overnight, as economic data showed a slowdown in U.S. manufacturing. Data released Monday put U.S. manufacturing at a near standstill in July, growing very slowly. The Institute of Supply Management's headline index, the Purchasing Manager's Index, came it at 50.9, just slightly above the break even point of 50 points. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate crude oil added 53 cents in recent trading to $95.34 per barrel. Home heating oil rose 4.21 cents to $3.1395 per gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline rose 3.61 cents to $3.0901 per gallon. Henry Hub natural gas prices lost 2.1 cents to $4.167 per million British thermal units. At the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline fell slightly to $3.703 per gallon from Monday's $3.705, AAA said.