CHICAGO. Aug 7: Unleaded gas futures prices were up Friday on New York Mercantile Exchange as supplies continue to fall during the busy summer driving season, reports AP.

On other markets, soybean, grain and orange juice futures prices also rose.

Unleaded gas is pulling other energy futures, including crude oil. upward — with unleaded gas posting highs not seen in two years — said energy analyst Tim Evans.

"We've had eight consecutive weeks in which inventories have fallen." said Evans, who works for Pegasus Econometric Group in New York. "It's driving season so demand is higher and production isn't keeping up.”

He said that's not necessarily unusual for this time of year. But US unleaded gas inventories are below what they were a year ago by 9.4 million barrels, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

In trading Friday. September crude rose 32 cents to $20.88 a barrel; September unleaded gasoline was up 1.35 cents to 65.83 cents a gallon: September heating oil rose 1.10 cents to 54.53 cents a gallon; and September natural gas was up 5.1 cents to $2,698 for each 1,000 cubic feet.