Brent slips below $115 as economic gloom worsens

* Comments from Fed officials send mixed signals on easing

* Tropical storms around Gulf of Mexico also in focus

By Ramya Venugopal

SINGAPORE, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Brent futures fell below $115 per barrel in Asia on Friday on signs of economic weakness across the globe, while doubts about more easing by the Federal Reserve and renewed worries over Europe's debt crisis also weighed.

Crude prices may still find support from a supply crunch because of sanctions on Iran and maintenance-linked production cuts in the North Sea as well as a seasonal pick-up in demand in the fourth quarter, analysts said.

Investors are also closely monitoring two tropical storms in the Atlantic, which potentially threaten U.S. energy interests in the Gulf of Mexico.

Brent October futures had fallen 43 cents to $114.58 by 0302 GMT. They ended nearly flat on Thursday after swinging in a two-dollar range.

NYMEX front-month crude futures eased 48 cents to $95.79 a barrel, after shedding nearly a dollar in the previous session.

It is close to the support level of $95.61, a break below which would pull it down to $93.95.

"It's no secret that the global economy is in a bad shape," said Tony Nunan, a risk manager at Mitsubishi Corp in Tokyo.

"Europe's a mess, U.S. is struggling and China, which was seen as a growth engine, is also sputtering -- all of which points to weak demand for crude."

Factory output data released on Thursday pointed to a deepening malaise in the world economy, dragging down stocks.

The 17-country euro zone appeared headed for its second recession in three years, while China's data fell to a nine-month low.

Growth in the United States remained sluggish, while an unexpected rise in its jobless claims last week spooked investors.

TO EASE OR NOT TO EASE

Crude oil, which rose more than a dollar in Asia on Thursday on hopes of more easing, gave up almost all gains on mixed signals from top Fed officials.

St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard told CNBC television the economic outlook had brightened since the July 31-Aug 1 meeting, whose minutes had triggered hopes of another round of monetary easing.

A few hours later, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans told the television channel there is a lot of reasons to do more.

He cited high unemployment and growth in the United States that he expects to be just 2 percent or 2.5 percent "if we are lucky" over the next year and a half.

Investors are also keeping an eye on fresh developments in the Middle East, especially an increasingly violent struggle in Syria between the army and rebels and tensions between Iran and Israel.

The U.S. Navy is cutting short home leave for the crew of one of its aircraft carriers and sending them back to the Middle East next week to counter any threat from Iran, according to the official Navy News Service.

Iran has threatened to block the waterway through which about 17 million barrels a day sailed in 2011 as U.S. and European sanctions aimed at starving Tehran of funds for its nuclear programme have tightened. (Editing by Dean Yates)