WASHINGTON — Americans borrowed more money in April for the seventh straight month, but they cut back on using their credit cards.

The Federal Reserve says consumer borrowing rose by nearly $7.2 billion, fueled by greater demand for school and auto loans. A category that measures credit card use fell for the second time in three months. It has risen only twice since August 2008 — the height of the financial crisis.

High unemployment, steep gas prices and a weak housing market have forced people to resist paying with plastic.

The report includes auto loans, student loans and credit cards, but excludes mortgages and loans tied to real estate.

SINGAPORE — Oil prices fell below $99 a barrel today in Asia amid signs OPEC may raise its crude production quotas at a meeting in Vienna.Benchmark oil for July delivery was down 43 cents to $98.66 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract added 8 cents to settle at $99.09 on Tuesday.In London, Brent crude for July delivery was down 63 cents to $116.15 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.Investors will be closely watching the outcome of a meeting today of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, a cartel that controls about 40 percent of global crude output.