Oil prices around the world are increasing again. Oil on the New York Merchantile Exchange increased to thirty-two dollars a barrel. In London, oil was selling for more than thirty dollars a barrel. Last week, oil prices increased to thirty-three dollars a barrel as markets reacted to the Venezuelan general strike and the possibility of war in Iraq. Venezuela and Iraq are both members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Earlier, OPEC announced the decision to increase production as of February first in an effort to ease the cost of oil.