U.S. crude inventories rose against expectations in
the week ended July 26, according to data released Wednesday by the
Energy Information Administration unit of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Crude oil stockpiles gained 431,000 barrels to 364.6 million
barrels, compared with an average survey estimate of a drop of 1.3
million barrels.
Gasoline stockpiles rose 770,000 barrels, to 223.5 million
barrels, the EIA said in its weekly report. Analysts surveyed by Dow
Jones Newswires expected a drop of 700,000 barrels.
Distillate stocks, which include heating oil and diesel fuel,
fell 466,000 barrels to 126 million barrels, compared with analysts'
forecast of a rise of 600,000 barrels.
Refining capacity utilization fell 1 percentage point to
91.3%. Analysts had expected the operating rate to be unchanged in the
week.
U.S. Oil Inventories for week ended July 26:
Crude Distillates Gasoline Refinery Use
EIA data: +0.431 -0.466 +0.770 +1.0
Forecast: -1.900 +0.600 -0.700 unch
Figures in millions of barrels, except for refining
use, which is reported in percentage points. Forecasts are the average
of expectations in a Dow Jones Newswires survey of analysts earlier in
the week.