The price of oil rose above $100 a barrel in light holiday trading on growing consumer confidence and prospects for stronger demand.
Benchmark crude rose 75 cents Tuesday to $100.43 per barrel in New York. Brent crude rose 36 cents to $108.32 per barrel in London.
Prices have risen in the past week as encouraging U.S. economic news pointed to stronger future demand. A private survey released Tuesday showed consumer confidence this month surged to levels not seen since April and was near a post-recession peak.
Tensions in the Middle East have also boosted prices. Violence in Iraq and a diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear ambitions have stoked worries about crude supplies in the region.
At the pump, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.23.
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