oil futures declined for a second session on wednesday with us prices settling in a bear market  defined by a 20 or more decline from a recent high ongoing worries over a recession that could lead to a slowdown in energy demand have pressured prices for oil west texas intermediate crude for august delivery clq22 fell 97 cents or 1 to settle at 9853 a barrel on the new york mercantile exchange the lowest frontmonth finish since april prices have fallen roughly 203 from the recent settlement high of 12370 on march 8 according to dow jones market data