Crude oil futures ended lower for third straight session on Monday amid worries about outlook for energy demand after data showed China's industrial production and retail sales growth slowed sharply in July, missing expectations, as flooding and fresh outbreaks of COVID-19 disrupted business activity. China's industrial production growth slowed to 6.4% in July from 8.3% a month ago, data from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed Monday. Output was expected to gain 7.8%. Retail sales grew at a slower pace of 8.5% on a yearly basis, following a 12.1% rise in June. This was also weaker than the street’s forecast of 11.5%.
Crude oil futures for September fell $1.15 or 1.7 percent to settle $67.29 barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. October Brent crude dropped $0.91 or 1.3 percent to settle at $69.68 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.