EIA reports weekly increase in U.S. crude supplies, but gasoline stockpiles fall

The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported that U.S. crude inventories rose by 2.6 million barrels for the week ended Oct. 21. On average, analysts forecasted a decrease of 800,000 barrels, according to a poll conducted by S&P Global Commodity Insights. The EIA also showed a weekly inventory decline of 1.5 million barrels for gasoline, while distillate stockpiles edged up by 200,000 barrels. The analyst survey had called for decreases of 1.6 million barrels for gasoline and 1.5 million barrels for distillates. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Okla., Nymex delivery hub edged up by 700,000 barrels for the week, the EIA said. December West Texas Intermediate crude CLZ22, +3.11% was up $1.63, or 1.9%, at $86.95 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $86.67 before the supply data.