What was the price of a barrel of crude oil on Friday? [originaltext] Higher

Higher air fares looked more likely Friday as American Airlines, Northwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways went along with competitors’ increases that the companies said were necessary to offset rising fuel prices. Airline stocks skidded after a three-week surge pushed the price of crude oil near a record of $67 a barrel during the day, taking jet fuel prices along with it. Airlines have already raised prices several times this year. The latest round of increases began Wednesday night with United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp. , Delta Air Lines Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc. They were followed Thursday by U.S. Airways Group Inc.