Oil prices ease in Asian trade ahead of key US data

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for June delivery was down 68
cents to US$113.25 from New York's close and Brent North Sea crude for June
eased 43 cents to US$125.46.

"Any data related to the US will be important," said Ben Westmore, a
Melbourne-based commodity economist with National Australia Bank.

"I think around current levels, we will see slight easing but we will see
nothing dramatic," he told AFP.

Non-farm payroll figures for April due out on Friday are among the US data
expected to be released this week and will be keenly watched by analysts for
clues on the state of the world's biggest economy.

"On Friday, we have April payroll data which will be the one to watch and
will have an impact (on crude oil futures)," said Westmore.

Westmore said prices also eased off as investors digested data released on
Friday that showed US consumer spending slowed in March despite a slight
rise in income.

The Commerce Department said on Friday that US consumer spending rose a
seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent after an upwardly revised rise of 0.9
percent in February.

Consumer spending is a key driver of the US economy.