US crude oil stockpiles down less than expected: EIA

[NEW YORK] US crude stocks fell last week, but the decline was smaller than anticipated, while gasoline stocks decreased sharply, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell by 933,000 barrels in the last week, compared with analysts' expectations for a decrease of 2.3 million barrels.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 904,000 barrels, EIA said.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 786,000 barrels, versus expectations for a 249,000-barrel drop, the EIA data showed.

Refinery crude runs fell by 100,000 barrels per day. Refinery utilization rates fell by 0.7 percentage point.

Gasoline stocks fell by 2.6 million barrels, compared with expectations in a Reuters poll for a 243,000-barrel drop.

US crude imports fell last week by 83,000 barrels per day.

REUTERS