With the dollar index down 0.52 percent, crude oil prices climbed solidly above $79 per barrel Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Still holding within a new holding pattern between $78 and $80 that began in mid-February, the price of April delivery light, sweet crude oil rose $1.43, prices. After a hitting a trading session peak just above $80, crude oil settled at $79.60 per barrel Friday.

0.0346 cents were added to heating oil prices to be $2.0208 per gallon. Reformulated gasoline prices rose 0.0509 cents to $2.0879 per gallon. Henry Hub natural gas prices gained 0.018 cents to $4.785 per million British thermal units.

AAA further said that at the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline was $2.701 per gallon, up from Thursday's $2.693. (With Input From Agencies)