The number of U.S. oil-drilling rigs, which is a proxy for activity in the oil industry, has fallen sharply since oil prices headed south last year. The rig count dropped for 29 straight weeks before climbing modestly in recent weeks. Despite recent increases, there are still about 59% fewer rigs working since a peak of 1,609 in October. According to Baker Hughes, gas rigs were unchanged at 202. The U.S. offshore rig count is 33 in the latest week, up three from last week and down 32 from a year earlier. For all rigs, including natural gas, the week’s total was down 13 to 864.