US crude stockpiles fell in latest week: EIA

[NEW YORK] US crude stocks fell unexpectedly last week, and gasoline and distillate inventories decreased more than expected, the Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell by 553,000 barrels in the last week, compared with analysts' expectations for an increase of 1.7 million barrels.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub fell by 1.3 million barrels, EIA said.

Refinery crude runs rose by 182,000 barrels per day, EIA data showed. Refinery utilization rates rose by 0.6 percentage points.

Gasoline stocks fell by 2 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1-million-barrel drop.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 3.4 million barrels, versus expectations for a 1.4 million barrels drop, the EIA data showed.

US crude imports rose last week by 133,000 barrels per day.

REUTERS