Crude oil prices fell for the fifth time in six days this evening amid concerns over the outlook for the global economy and oil demand.
US crude fell $1.79 to $73.07 a barrel, while Brent fell 54 cents to $78.78.
Chinese figures had offered some support for prices earlier. China's apparent oil demand rose 8.2% in August over a year earlier, rebounding from July, calculations from official data showed.
But US oil inventories remain high, with crude oil, distillate and petrol stock levels all well above year-ago levels in the government's report for the week to September 10. The next set of figures is due tomorrow.
Analysts believe crude inventories probably fell last week because of lower imports from Canada due to a pipeline outage and as tankers navigated around stormy weather.
