Oil rises; US considers release from reserves

NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil rose to its highest point in three months Friday, topping off four straight days of gains, on signs U.S. consumers are gaining confidence in the economy.

Benchmark oil rose 41 cents in New York to end at $96.01 per barrel — the first time it's finished above $96 since May 11. It gained 3.4 percent this week on positive economic data and a drop in U.S. oil supplies, and is up 23 percent from its late-June low.