Gas prices lowest since January, but oil soars

Gas prices hit a $3.35 national average – the lowest since Jan. 6. But oil prices soared Friday, hinting that gas prices may be back on the way up. 

Oil soared the most in more than three years after European leaders took surprisingly aggressive steps to halt a debt crisis that has undermined confidence in the global economy.

Benchmark U.S. crude jumped by $7.27, or 9.4 percent, on Friday to end the week at $84.96 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, which helps set the price of imported oil, rose by $6.44, or 7 percent, to $95.51 per barrel in London.

The surge could end a nearly three-month decline in U.S. gasoline prices. The national average for gas had declined from $3.94 per gallon in the first week of April to $3.35 on Friday.

Oil rose after eurozone leaders unveiled a plan to rescue ailing banks, relieve debt-burdened governments in Italy, Spain and elsewhere and restore the confidence of markets. The progress in dealing with Europe's lengthy debt crisis is good news for that continent's — and the world's — economy. Economic growth drives energy consumption.

The deal was struck as borrowing rates in Spain and Italy surged to levels that were considered unsustainable. Leery investors were surprised and energized by the breakthrough — they rushed to buy riskier assets like oil and stocks and sold ultra-safe U.S. Treasuries. Stock in the U.S. rose more than 2 percent, while European stock markets posted even loftier gains.

"All of a sudden we're not worried about the Spanish and Italian banks going bankrupt over the weekend," said Phil Flynn, an oil analyst with Price Group.

U.S. drivers might not share in oil traders' relief. Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil PriceInformation Service, said gasoline should get a little more expensive next week as stations price in the jump in oil, which accounts for two-thirds of the cost of a gallon of gas.

Oil plunged around 25 percent from May 1 through Thursday. At $3.35 per gallon, the national average was the lowest since Jan. 6, according to auto club AAA, Wright Express and OPIS. Gas could still fall a few cents over the weekend — pump prices usually lag the action in the markets.

"That's probably the bottom until after Labor Day," Kloza said. He expects the average to waver between $3.30 and $3.50 per gallon for the rest of the summer.

Friday's percentage rise in benchmark U.S. crude was the biggest since March 12, 2009. The dollar gain was the largest since Sept. 22, 2008.

Oil added to its ded stronger c The crisis its gains in the afternoon on reports that Norway's Statoil shut down production of another platform in the North Sea due to a tanker leak. Statoil previously said that daily production will fall 10 percent after oil workers went on strike at four North Sea fields.

North Sea oil supplies much of Europe. The loss of production will squeeze stockpiles just as Europe prepares to stop buying Iranian oil on Sunday. Europe announced an embargo earlier this year in an effort to pressure Iran to open its nuclear facilities to inspection. Western nations fear that Iran is building a nuclear weapon; Iran denies the claim.

International sanctions already have cut Iranian exports by about 700,000 barrels per day. Experts said it's unclear how much more of Iran's oil will be taken off the market once the embargo goes into effect. But a further reduction in global supply could cause oil prices to rise.

Friday's rise in oil prices boosted shares for major petroleum companies, trimming some of their losses for the quarter. On Friday, shares of BP jumped 4.7 percent, Apache Corp. rose by 2.3 percent, Exxon Mobil Corp. jumped 2.2 percent and Chevron Corp. rose by 1.4 percent.

In other futures trading, heating oil added 14.41 cents, about 6 percent, to finish at $2.696 per gallon and wholesale gasoline added 11.3 cents, or nearly 5 percent, to end at $2.7272 per gallon. Natural gas rose by 10.2 cents, nearly 4 percent, to finish the week at $2.824 per 1,000 cubic feet.