As the dollar index fell 0.64 percent on Wednesday, crude oil prices reached $81 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The Energy Information Administration said that as expected U. S. stockpiles rose in the week. Crude oil supplies rose by 4.1 million barrels in the week ending Feb. 26. Gasoline inventories rose by 700,000 barrels EIA further added.

April delivery of light, sweet crude oil gained 1.33 to $81.01 per barrel. Heating oil prices gained 0.0359 cents to $2.092 per gallon. Reformulated gasoline prices rose 0.0459 cents to $2.2425 per gallon. Natural gas prices added 0.05 cents to $4.758 per million British thermal units.

According to AAA the national average price for unleaded gasoline was $2.703 per gallon at the pump on Wednesday, unchanged from Tuesday. (With inputs from Agencies)