Oil prices continued their upward trajectory on Wednesday, following a significant drop in U.S. crude inventories and amid supply concerns due to Hurricane Ida. Brent Crude futures for October rose by 17 cents, or 0.2%, to $85.66 per barrel as of 01:33 GMT.
The October contract is set to expire tomorrow, while the more active November contract stood at $85.08 per barrel, also up by 17 cents.
Similarly, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures saw a boost of 24 cents, or 0.3%, reaching $81.40 per barrel, marking gains for the fifth consecutive session.
The surge in oil prices is notably influenced by the latest industry data showing a substantial reduction in crude stockpiles in the United States, the world’s largest fuel consumer. The situation is further exacerbated by ongoing concerns about supply interruptions due to the impact of Hurricane Ida.
This trend of rising oil prices has broad economic implications, affecting everything from transportation costs to consumer goods prices. As markets respond to the changing landscape, analysts and policymakers will be closely watching how these shifts impact inflation and global economic stability.