Share this story Close X Switch to Desktop Site  Government
shutdown threat sends oil prices near three-month low  (Read
article summary)  J. Scott Applewhite/AP  (Read caption) The
morning sun illuminates the US Capitol in Washington, Monday, as
a partial government shutdown will come at midnight unless
Congress can reach an agreement on funding. The government
shutdown's greatest impact on energy comes in the form of a
potential hit to the US economic recovery.  About these ads  The
threat of a government shutdown sent oil prices down near a
three-month low Monday.  Investors fear even the temporary
furloughing of hundreds of thousands of government employees
will crimp a weak economic recovery and drive down demand for
oil and gasoline.  But that's only one piece of the puzzle.
Potential boosts in supply are also putting downward pressure on
oil prices. Warming relations between the US and Iran, and
pursuit of a diplomatic solution in Syria portend a more stable
situation in the oil-rich Middle East. In th