By Anthony Harrup


U.S. crude oil inventories rose modestly last week as refineries ramped up capacity use, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Commercial crude-oil stocks excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve were up by 1.4 million barrels to 448.5 million barrels in the week ended March 1, and were about 1% below the five-year average for the time of year, the EIA said.

Analysts surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had predicted crude stockpiles would rise by 1.3 million barrels.

Stocks of gasoline and distillate fuels fell from the previous week.


 
Change in U.S. oil inventories for the week ended March 1: 
 
                   Crude       Gasoline      Distillates         Refinery Use 
EIA data:           1.4          -4.5           -4.1                  3.4 
Forecast:           1.3          -1.4           -0.4                  1.0 
 

Note: Numbers in millions of barrels, with the exception of refinery use, which is in percentage points.


Write to Anthony Harrup at anthony.harrup@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-06-24 1055ET