NEW YORK — Oil prices plunged for a second day Thursday, raising hopes a rise in gasoline prices may slow or reverse, at least temporarily.

US benchmark crude fell $2.38, or 2.5 percent, to finish at $92.84 per barrel, the second drop of 2 percent in two days. Brent crude, used to price oil used to make gasoline in many US refineries, fell $2.07 to end at $113.53.