EIA reports a weekly fall in U.S. crude and gasoline supplies

The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported that U.S. crude inventories edged down by 200,000 barrels for the week ended Sept. 23. On average, analysts forecasted a climb of 400,000 barrels, according to a poll conducted by S&P Global Commodity Insights. The EIA also reported weekly inventory declines of 2.4 million barrels for gasoline and 2.9 million barrels for distillates The analyst survey had called for decreases of 100,000 barrels each for gasoline and distillates. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Okla., Nymex delivery hub edged up by 700,000 barrels for the week, the EIA said. November West Texas Intermediate crude was up $2.97, or 3.8%, at $81.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $80.22 before the supply data.