Crude oil prices climb above $81

Prices rose with the dollar index up 0.2 percent and stocks mostly higher in Asia and Europe.

Crude oil prices climbed 41 cents to $81.11 in morning trading. New York Harbor No. 2 heating oil for September gained 0.0123 cents to $2.1595 per gallon.

Reformulated gasoline blendstock rose 0.0161 cents to $2.1288 per gallon. Henry Hub natural gas climbed 0.021 cents to $4.488 per million British thermal units.

At the pump, the national average price for unleaded gasoline shifted lower, dropping to $2.774 per gallon from Sunday's $2.776, AAA said.

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