NEW YORK - Oil prices plunged nearly 10 percent in trading on Thursday, with gasoline futures also dropping.

Crude oil prices fell $9.44 to $99.80 and gasoline futures fell 22.71 cents to $3.09 in NYMEX trading.

Analysts have offered several potential reasons for the drop, including the disappointing unemployment numbers released Thursday, a strengthening dollar and a lessening of the "fear premium" that many analysts say is built into commodities pricing. Also, The Energy Department reported Wednesday that oil inventories increased last week by 3.4 million barrels, largely as a result of a decrease in gas consumption.

"The driver can expect to see a slow erosion of prices," OPIS?? Tom Kloza told The New York Times. "My expectation is what people pay this week will be the highest they pay for 90 days."