European industrial activity on life support, suggesting a lack of a demand economy persisting in the low oil price era. UPI/Debbie Hill Brent prices increased for the second straight day Thursday, gaining 1.3 percent from the previous close to sell at $58.32 per barrel for the April contract. Brent in mid-January sold for less than $45 per barrel, but has been unable to hold above the $60 mark for any extended period so far this year. Oil prices are trading at a discount from their June 2014 high above $100 per barrel as markets shift away from the demand side on continued concerns about the health of the global economy. Eurostat, the statistics office for the European Union, said Thursday there were still lingering problems for the regional economy. Industrial production in December grew by just under one-half percent but dropped 0.1 percent in January. Year-on-year, industrial production grew […]