Prices drop on rising concern over budget impasse in Washington NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices slid in New York through the weekend, dropping to less than $89 per barrel as concern over a budget impasse in Washington rose. House members were sent home last week as Speaker John Boehner's "Plan B" to avoid a $500 billion budget adjustment failed to find enough support to be put to a vote. Lawmakers have until the end of the year to reach a budget compromise to avoid the combination of tax hikes and spending cuts that many fear would send the U.S. economy back into a recession. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for February delivery lost 26 cents to $88.40 per barrel. Home heating oil for February gave up 1.36 cents to $2.9966 a gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline was off 1.66 cents to $2.7002 a gallon. Natural gas prices fell 0.9 cents to $3.361 per million British thermal units. At the pump, AAA reported a national average price for regular unleaded gasoline hit $3.247 per gallon, up from Sunday's $3.246.