Gasoline Futures Advance on U.S. Economic Data, Crude Rally

Gasoline rose the most in three weeks as U.S. economic data boosted optimism that fuel demand will increase and reports of Algerian forces battling al-Qaeda members pushed oil higher.

Futures gained 1.7 percent as Labor Department data show U.S. applications for jobless benefits fell by 37,000 to 335,000 last week, the least since January 2008. U.S. housing starts rose to a 954,000 annual rate in December, the most since June 2008, according to Commerce Department data.