U.S. crude oil supplies climb

Crude inventories rose to 339.9 million barrels during the week with levels reaching above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year.
Gasoline inventories increased by 4 million barrels to 214.1 million barrels and are above the upper limit of the average range.

Supplies of distillate fuels, which include heating oil, dropped by 1.2 million barrels to 165.7 million barrels.

Finished gasoline inventories increased and gasoline blending components inventories increased during the week, EIA reported.

At 9 million barrels a day, demand for motor gasoline is up 0.7 percent from a year ago, using a four-week rolling average. Distillate fuel demand is down 7.7 percent from a year ago. Jet fuel demand is slightly higher, up 0.1 percent comparing a four-week rolling average from the same period a year ago.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.