By Steve Gelsi
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Crude oil futures rose 72 cents to $85.53 on Tuesday, on fresh signs of inflation in China and the U.K., and ahead of a slew of economic data. Due out during the session is January retail sales and the Empire State manufacturing survey. Political unrest continues in the Middle East. In Bahrain, violence between mourners and police caused the death of a second demonstrator. On Monday, crude oil for March delivery (CLH11 85.49, +0.68, +0.80%) settled down 77 cents, or 0.9%, to $84.81 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and gasoline for March delivery (RBH11 2.52, +0.03, +1.34%) settled up 5.2 cents, or 2.1%, to $2.52 a gallon.
