(Washington, DC)  --  Residential heating oil has reached its highest price this season.

   The Energy Department says the spike is largely due to pricey crude oil.

   The Energy Information Administration says the nationwide price for heating oil is now at $2.73 a gallon.

   That's an increase of 1.2 cents from last week and 25 cents less than a year ago.

   Heating fuel prices have jumped 23 cents since the heating season began on October 1st.



   (Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)