NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Crude prices jumped about 3 percent to settle above 81 U.S. dollars a barrel on Wednesday after government data showed a lager-than-expected decrease in gasoline inventories.

    Light, sweet crude for December delivery rose 2.25 dollars, or 2.8 percent, to settle at 81.37 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

    The contract began to surge immediately after report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that gasoline inventories dropped by 2.3 million barrels in the week ending Oct.16, more than analysts' expectations.

    Meanwhile, crude inventories increased 1.3 million barrels, less than the expected 1.8-million-barrel rise, which was also bullish news for the market.

    Commodities also got boosted on Wednesday as the dollar fell to new lows against the euro, pushing investors to the futures market to hedge against inflation.

    In London, Brent Crude for October delivery gained 2.47 dollars to 79.71 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.