Crude prices plunged nine percent on Tuesday as weak US economic data refreshed investors' concerns on energy demand.

US consumer confidence dropped to a record low in January, said the Conference Board, an economic research group. The index edged lower in January to 37.7 from a revised 38.6 in December.

Meanwhile, US home prices plunged in November from a year earlier. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city index of home prices tumbled by a record 18.2 percent while 10-city index dropped 19.1 percent.

Light, sweet crude for March delivery was down US$4.15 a barrel, or 9 percent, to settle at US$41.58 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In London, the March Brent contract fell US$3.23 to settle at US$43.73 on the ICE Future Exchange.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2009)