This week oil prices touched $ 98 per barrel

Oil prices fell below 98 dollars a barrel Friday to end a week of volatile mix of debt jitters in Europe with the prospect of tightening oil supplies, and improving economic conditions in the U.S.

Oil prices ended the week lower than the beginning, despite the increase in the negotiations that led while oil above $ 100 in mid-week for the first time since July. With benchmark crude fell $ 1.41 to close at 97.41 dollars a barrel Friday in New York in light trading ahead of Thanksgiving week.

Sharp fluctuations in oil prices will impact on energy markets, but analysts said the highs and lows this week, probably will not have much effect on retail gasoline prices. Pump prices down almost a cent Friday to a national average of $ 3.38 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. A gallon of regular has lost 44 cents, after reaching its peak in 2011, approaching U.S. $ 4 per gallon in May Analysts said prices could fall another 13 cents by the end of the year.

For most of October and November, oil prices jumped on the promotion of economic news in the U.S. and reports that crude oil inventories declined.

Reference price jumped as high as $ 103.37 on Wednesday, following the announcement by the two Canadian companies that will take the pipe from the point of handing over the keys in Cushing, Oklahoma, the Gulf Coast. Able to reduce excess oil in the Midwest who have suppressed prices this year.

Prices fell Thursday as soaring borrowing rates in Europe and investors worried that the economic slowdown in the euro area would reduce oil demand.

Analysts say the dust has not settled the rapid fluctuations in oil prices this week.

"The market just chips right now," analyst and trader Stephen Schork said independent.

On Friday, the main news on the world economy has been very positive. Greek leader is expected that the budget deficit will decline sharply in the country's big next year, with the help of debt relief and rescue others. In the U.S., an indicator of economic indicators show strong growth during October, and a strong economy means demand for oil.

In an exchange of energy, heating oil fell 5.07 cents to close at $ 3.0325 a gallon, while gasoline dropped 2.87 cents future to close at $ 2.4784 a gallon. Natural gas fell 9.4 cents to close at $ 3.3160 ​​per thousand cubic meters.

Brent fell 69 cents at the end of the week at 107.40 U.S. dollars per barrel in London.