Crude oil prices fall slightly

Crude oil prices fell slightly Friday on concerns that US inventories will continue to climb as demand is falling.

West Texas Intermediate crude for April delivery was down 43 cents to $109.90 near the close of floor trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange while Brent crude fell 9 cents to $107.45 on the ICE Futures Europe exchange, but only after it hit a new record high at $108.02 per barrel earlier.

Nymex April gas and May heating oil were both up 1 cent in afternoon trade, to $2.69 and $3.04 per gallon respectively, while May natural gas dropped 20 cents to $10.11 per million British thermal units.

At-the-pump prices for gasoline in the United States gained 1.3 cents overnight to $3.28 per gallon while diesel fuel added 2.9 cents to $3.93 per gallon on average nationally.

The rise in diesel prices, used to power the trucks, trains and ships that deliver goods, is sending prices for food and other goods higher.