WTI Crude Drops Near $74 After China Inflation Data

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices extended losses for a second consecutive session on Monday, falling to around $74.10 per barrel during Asian trading hours. The decline of over 1% comes in the wake of weaker-than-expected inflation data from China for September, which was released on Sunday.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported that the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained flat at 0% in September, down from a 0.4% rise in August. On an annual basis, inflation rose by only 0.4%, falling short of the 0.6% increase forecasted. Additionally, the Producer Price Index (PPI) dropped by 2.8% year-on-year, a steeper decline than the 1.8% fall in August, and worse than the expected 2.5% decrease.

Crude oil prices are also feeling the impact of uncertainty surrounding potential economic stimulus in China, as concerns grow about demand in the world’s largest oil-importing nation. However, following a briefing on Saturday by China’s Ministry of Finance, the National People’s Congress expressed some optimism. The ministry announced plans to issue special bonds to support bank recapitalization and stabilize the struggling real estate sector, though no concrete details were provided.

While weaker economic data in China is weighing on oil prices, the downside may be limited due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. On Friday, the US expanded sanctions on Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors in response to an Iranian missile strike on Israel, according to Reuters.

Further intensifying the situation, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a drone attack on north-central Israel on Sunday, killing at least four Israeli soldiers and injuring over 60 others, per CNN. This marks one of the bloodiest incidents in Israel since the conflict began last October, adding to the geopolitical risk premium that could support oil prices.