Three of four energy prices lower at start

New York -- Crude oil prices began Friday slightly down on the New York Mercantile Exchange, off 19 cents to $90.87 per barrel.

Heating oil and natural gas also were off to slow starts. Heating oil was down 0.007 cents at $2.5825 per gallon and natural gas was off 0.048 cents, at $7.089 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline began the session in positive figures, gaining 0.0054 cent at $2.333 per gallon.

At the pump, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline was $2.980 Friday, down from the previous day's price of $2.985, the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.