Oil hits $93; gas stabilizes

The weak dollar, Middle East tensions, weather-related production cuts in Mexico - all the usual culprits were behind today's jump in oil prices. Then again, it doesn't take much these days. Crude futures for December delivery rose as high as $93.20 a barrel, though prices pulled back later on (Bloomberg). Reaching $100 could take a while - perhaps into early next year - as traders go through their buy-sell routines. Meanwhile pump prices took a break from several straight weeks of sizeable jumps. The government's latest survey shows that the average price of regular in the L.A. area is $3.124, down a penny from last week.