Oil prices jump on Middle East tensions

Crude oil for October delivery jumped close to $109 per barrel in New York Tuesday as tension in Syria raised the prospects of a supply disruption. West Texas Intermediate crude oil added $2.90 to $108.82 per barrel, a high unseen since March 2012. Reformulated blendstock gasoline gained 7.97 cents to reach $2.9142 per gallon. Home heating oil added 8.19 cents to reach $3.1654 per gallon. Natural gas gained 2.5 cents to $3.538 per million British thermal units. At the pump, the national average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline was $3.542, up from Monday's $3.541, the AAA Fuel Gauge report said.