Short-term sector pressures and concerns about U.S. economic moves left the negative pressure on crude oil prices in place in early Tuesday trading.

Crude oil prices drifted back below the $50 per barrel level Monday, after a sustained rally for much of August. Oil prices faced headwinds after U.S. Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said the U.S. economy is "close" to its inflation target, though the lower trend for oil was offering mixed support.

The U.S. economy has been supported by steady gains in the labor market, though wages have not kept pace with the boost in payrolls. In Europe, the Scottish government said Tuesday it expected the British decision to leave the European Union meant that, in dollar terms, gross domestic product would be at least $2.2 billion less than it would've been if the June vote went the other way.

"This analysis -- based on a wide range of sources -- demonstrates that leaving the EU, under any potential alternative arrangement, will have a profound and long-lasting impact on the public finances and the wider economic and societal wellbeing of both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole," Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a statement.

Crude oil prices responded the global economic concerns by moving further away from the $50 mark in early Tuesday trading. The price for Brent crude oil was down 1.1 percent to start trading in New York at $48.63 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark price for oil, was off 1.3 percent at the open to $46.77 per barrel.

In the U.S. market, lower prices for consumer fuels has led to an increase in demand, a situation that in part has helped narrow the gap between supply and demand. Supply-side pressures, however, may be skewed in the short term because of unplanned refinery maintenance issues in Texas and Louisiana, which is coping with record-setting floods. Future demand pressures may emerge ahead of the long Labor Day holiday weekend in the United States, the last major summer holiday.

Analysis emailed by S&P Global Platts attributed those trends to any shortfalls on U.S. gasoline stocks, but added crude oil stockpiles may build by as much as 350,000 barrels from last week.