Oil falls as IEA predicts demand growth will slow

The price of oil fell slightly Tuesday after the International Energy Agency predicted demand will grow at a slower pace into next year because of the sluggish global economy. The contract fell 19 cents to end at $85.38 per barrel in New York.

The IEA lowered its forecast for fourth-quarter oil demand by 300,000 barrels per day to 90.1 million barrels. Meanwhile, global oil supplies increased 800,000 barrels per day to 90.9 million barrels per day in October, the agency said.

The IEA blamed the weak European economy and superstorm Sandy, which disrupted oil imports and gasoline deliveries on the U.S. East Coast. Analysts also said uncertainty over Greece's debt situation and the so-called fiscal cliff in the U.S. were weighing on future prospects for global oil demand.