Oil prices have fallen to new three-month low points after US government figures showed bigger than expected increases in stockpiles of crude and distillates such as diesel in the country last week. The figures are watched closely as the US is the world's top oil consumer.
US crude was $1.69 down at $117.48 a barrel, while London Brent fell $1.66 to $116.04.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said crude oil stocks rose by 1.7 million barrels last week, much bigger than the 300,000 increase analysts had expected.
Petrol reserves fell by a much bigger than expected 4.4 million barrels, but stocks of distillate fuels, which include heating oil and diesel, rose by 2.8 million barrels, more than expected. Analysts described the data as mixed.
Oil has fallen almost $30 from its mid-July peak above $147 a barrel - a drop of nearly 20% - mainly due to growing evidence that high prices have finally started to affect demand.
