High crude prices have pushed up US gasoline prices substantially, prompting consumer protests. Heating oil prices are at their highest levels since the 1991 Gulf War. Data released earlier on Wednesday showed that US crude oil stocks grew last week by two million barrels, still 32 million barrels less than last year. Opec ministers are next due to meet on 10 September and are expected to increase the organisation's production by at least 500,000 barrels a day. Some other leading producers, including Venezuela, are adopting a tougher stance towards consumer governments, saying they have contributed to high prices through market speculation, increased taxes and costly environmental regulations.
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