MW: Crude oil futures add to gains after retail sales
By Nick Godt
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Crude oil futures added to earlier gains on Tuesday, after a report that showed retail sales jumped a better-than-expected 2.7% in August. Separate reports showed manufacturing in the New York region improved in September, while producer prices were up 1.7% last month. Crude oil for October delivery gained 70 cents, or 1%, to $69.56 a barrel. Ahead of the data, crude futures stood at $69.47 a barrel. Natural gas futures continued their recent surge, gaining 6% in electronic trade.
