U.S. crude and gasoline stocks fell in the most recent week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.

Crude inventories dropped 4.5 million barrels, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1 million-barrel drop.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 751,000 barrels in the last week, EIA said.

Refinery crude runs fell by 292,000 barrels per day in the last week, EIA said.

Refinery utilization rates fell by 1.5 percentage points in the week

U.S. gasoline stocks fell by 3.3 million barrels on the week to 225.1 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 0.9 million-barrel drop.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 784,000 barrels in the week to 111.7 million barrels, versus expectations for a 0.5 million-barrel rise, the EIA data showed.

Net U.S. crude imports fell by 1.14 million barrels per day, EIA said.
Source: Reuters (Reporting By David Gaffen)