Crude prices slipped in Asian trading on Friday as investors braced for a seasonal slowdown in U.S. fuel consumption once the Labor Day holiday ends the summer driving season. Brent October futures fell 0.7% to $68.12 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate declined by the same margin to $64.15. Despite the pull-back, both benchmarks are set for modest weekly gains—about 0.6% for Brent and 0.8% for WTI—after sharp swings earlier in the week. WTI, however, is heading for a roughly 7% drop in August, its first monthly decline since April, reflecting concerns about a burgeoning supply glut. Traders remain torn between conflicting signals. U.S. government data earlier showed crude inventories shrinking by 7.1 million barrels last week, suggesting robust short-term demand, yet analysts expect consumption to soften in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, uncertainty over Russian exports following attacks on its infrastructure and the potential impact of higher U.S. tariffs on Indian imports has made market participants reluctant to take large positions.