Crude oil prices slip below $53 a barrel

Crude futures fell below $53 a barrel Monday, marking the sixth straight day of declines as OPEC pondered a production increase next month.

Analysts said crude inventory growth revealed last week by the U.S. Energy Department and speculative trading also weighed on prices. But they suggested that increased summer demand – and potential refining bottlenecks – could again turn the market higher in the coming weeks.