World oil prices dropped again on Tuesday.
The decline came after some analysts said recent record-high oil prices could slow the economic growth that fueled this year's sharp increase in oil consumption.
In volatile trading, crude oil for future delivery dropped below $53 a barrel, after briefly hitting a record high of $55.33 on Monday.
Worries about the supply of heating oil on the U.S. market was one reason that traders recently bid up prices.
Traders will be watching closely on Wednesday when the U.S. Energy Department issues the latest report on heating oil and other petroleum products available in the key U.S. market.