Oil prices fell below $97 a barrel Tuesday in Asia, extending a two-week
fall amid investor concern slowing U.S. economic growth could undermine
demand for crude.

Benchmark crude for June delivery was down 50 cents to $96.87 a barrel
at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York
Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $2.28 to settle at $97.37 on
Monday.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Boosting the nation's oil supply could finally
lower gas prices as much as 50 cents a gallon, but relief at the pump
is still weeks away.

News that the Department of Energy will tap 30 million barrels of oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to alleviate Libyan supply
disruptions sent oil prices sharply lower Thursday. Many consumers hope
that means gas prices -- now averaging well above $3.50 a gallon -- will
quickly decline.