LONDON, Jan 24 Reuters Crude oil prices were steady on Tuesday as concerns about a global economic slowdown and expected build in U.S. oil inventories were offset by hopes of a fuel demand recovery from top importer China.

Brent crude was up 7 cents, or 0.1, at 88.26 a barrel by 1320 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate WTI crude rose 14 cents, or 0.2, to 81.76.

The United States economy still could roll over and some energy traders are still sceptical on how quickly China39;s crude demand will bounce back this quarter, OANDA analyst Edward Moya said in a note.

This week traders are watching for more business data as corporate earnings season gathers momentum, offering clues to the health of economies around the globe.

On the inventory side, U.S. stocks of crude oil and gasoline were expected to have risen last week while distillate stocks were forecast to fall, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Reports from the American Petroleum Institute, due at 430 p.m. ET 2130 GMT on Tuesday, and the Energy Information Administration, due at 1030 a.m. 1530 GMT on Wednesday.

Bank JP Morgan raised its forecast for Chinese crude demand but maintained its projection for a 2023 price average of 90 a barrel for Brent crude.

Absent any major geopolitical events, it would be difficult for oil prices to breach 100 in 2023 as there should be more supply than demand this year, it said in an analyst note.

Crude oil prices in physical markets have started the year with a rally…