West Texas Intermediate crude advanced after U.S. retail sales climbed, bolstering the outlook for the economy of the world’s biggest fuel-consuming nation.

Futures gained as much as 0.8 percent. Commerce Department data show purchases rose 0.7 percent last month, the most since June. Equities and commodities dropped yesterday on speculation that a two-year U.S. budget accord will increase the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will curb bond buying. The Fed may begin cutting stimulus at its Dec. 17-18 meeting, according to 34 percent of economists surveyed Dec. 6 by Bloomberg.

WTI for January delivery rose 28 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $97.72 a barrel at 11:01 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The volume of all futures traded was 15 percent below the 100-day average. Futures are up 6.4 percent this year.

Brent for January settlement slid 78 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $108.92 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The volume of all futures traded was 13 percent lower than the 100-day average.