The U.S. Energy
Information Administration (EIA) revealed on Wednesday that crude inventories fell
by 0.282 million barrels in the week ended May 24. Economists had forecast a
decrease of 1.360 million barrels.
At the same
time, gasoline stocks surged by 2.204 million barrels, while analysts had
expected a drop of 0.800 million barrels. Distillate stocks declined by 1.615
million barrels, while analysts had forecast an increase of 0.750 million
barrels.
Meanwhile, oil
production in the U.S. increased by 100,000 barrels a day to 12.300 million
barrels a day.
U.S. crude oil
imports averaged 6.9 million barrels per day last week, down by 81,000 barrels
per day from the previous week.