Lonon, 26 May 2010

U.S crude oil is expected to average $80.22 a barrel in 2010, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday, a slight drop from April's survey but still in line with expectations for continued price growth. The poll of 33 analysts showed a lower consensus monthly forecast for the first time in 12 months. In April the average forecast for 2010 was $81.06 a barrel, and forecasts had been consecutively higher each month from April 2009.

"The recent oil price decline appears as a healthy correction to inflated prices," said Christophe Barret, global oil analyst at Credit Agricole CIB in London which raised its 2010 forecast to $78 from $76 since the April poll.

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