Crude ends lower for first time in three days

Negative consumer sentiment report weighs on investors

Crude-oil futures snapped a two-day winning streak on Friday, 12 August 2011. Oil futures had weathered a negative consumer sentiment report and cheered data showing growth in the nation's retail sales for July and rising U.S. equities.



Crude for September delivery declined 34 cents, or 0.4%, to $85.38 a barrel on Friday. Oil lost 1% on the week.

Among economic data expected for the day, sales at U.S. retailers rose 0.5% in July. Sales figures for June and May were revised higher.

Investors got some bad news on the consumer-sentiment front, however. The University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters gauge dropped to 54.9 in August, the lowest reading since May 1980, down from 63.7 in July.

AMong other energy products on Monday, gasoline for September declined 1 penny, or 0.2%, to $2.82 a gallon. On the week, gasoline declined 0.3%. September heating oil added less than 1 cent, or 0.2%, to $2.90 a gallon. Heating oil lost 1.4% on the week.

September natural gas declined 5 cents, or 1.2%, to $4.06 per million British thermal units.