WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. commercial crude oil inventories rose for the 7th consecutive week while gasoline stockpiles also increased last week, the Energy Department reported Wednesday.
In the week ended Feb. 22, the nation's commercial crude oil inventories were up 3.2 million barrels, more than the 2.4 million expected by analysts, to 308.5 million.
Gasoline stockpiles, meanwhile, increased 2.3 million barrels last week to 232.6 million. Analysts had been forecasting a much smaller gain of 400,000 barrels for last week.
Supplies of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, decreased by 2.5 million barrels to 120 million last week.
The report also showed that U.S. crude imports declined to 9.958 million barrels per day last week, while gasoline imports jumped to 1.354 million per day from 827,000 the week before.
Gasoline demand stood at 9.045 million barrels a day last week, lower than the previous week's 9.125 million barrels.
The figures for commercial crude oil inventories do not include the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which currently holds crude oil of about 6.986 million barrels.
In the week ended Feb. 22, the nation's commercial crude oil inventories were up 3.2 million barrels, more than the 2.4 million expected by analysts, to 308.5 million.
Gasoline stockpiles, meanwhile, increased 2.3 million barrels last week to 232.6 million. Analysts had been forecasting a much smaller gain of 400,000 barrels for last week.
Supplies of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, decreased by 2.5 million barrels to 120 million last week.
The report also showed that U.S. crude imports declined to 9.958 million barrels per day last week, while gasoline imports jumped to 1.354 million per day from 827,000 the week before.
Gasoline demand stood at 9.045 million barrels a day last week, lower than the previous week's 9.125 million barrels.
The figures for commercial crude oil inventories do not include the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which currently holds crude oil of about 6.986 million barrels.
