The White House says President Barack Obama will hold a news conference Friday morning to answer questions about rising U.S. gasoline prices.
Officials say he likely will be asked about the turmoil in Libya, which has been a major cause of high oil prices.
The cost of a barrel of oil fell Thursday in London and New York, where it dropped $1.68 to $102.70 on worries that slow economic growth would cut energy demand.
Prices were up for a while Thursday on concerns that supplies might fall short after more fighting in Libya and a report that police shot at demonstrators in Saudi Arabia.
Traders are nervous that the unrest that toppled governments in Egypt and Tunisia and fighting in Libya could spread to Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter.
