S Crude Oil Inventories Fall Less than Expected

US crude inventories fell by 0.391 million barrels in the week ended September 4, 2026, less than market expectations for a 1.6 million-barrel drop. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub decreased by 0.684 million barrels in the week. Refinery crude runs rose by 90,000 barrels per day. Gasoline stocks increased by 1.269 million barrels, compared with forecasts for a 1.4 million-barrel draw. Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 2.087 million barrels, versus expectations for a 0.7 million-barrel drop. Net US crude imports rose by 1.12 million barrels per day.

Stocks of crude oil in the US declined by 4.45 million barrels in the last week of August 2026, the first fall in five weeks, following a 0.095 million barrels rise in the previous period and much higher than forecasts of a 1.1 million draw. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 0.08 million barrels in the week. Refinery crude runs went up by 0.103 million barrels per day. Gasoline stocks fell by 1.173 million barrels, less than forecasts for a 1.173 million-barrel draw. Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose for the first time in five weeks by 0.796 million barrels, compared to expectations for a 1.3 million-barrel drop.

US crude inventories rose by 0.095 million barrels to 428.9 million barrels in the week ended August 21, compared with expectations for a 0.6 million-barrel rise. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 1.176 million barrels in the week. Refinery crude runs fell by 2,000 barrels per day. Gasoline stocks fell by 2.536 million barrels to 206.8 million barrels, more than forecasts for a 0.7 million-barrel draw. Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 2.228 million barrels to 103.4 million barrels, above expectations for a 1.6 million-barrel drop. Net US crude imports fell by 161,000 barrels per day.