Analysts See Decline in U.S. Crude Oil Inventories

By Anthony Harrup

U.S. crude oil inventories likely fell last week, giving back some of the previous week's unexpectedly large increase, according to a survey by The Wall Street Journal.

Commercial crude stocks are seen falling by 1.6 million barrels to 422.8 million barrels in the week ended Aug. 14, according to the average estimate of six analysts and traders. Four expect a drop and two predict an increase, with expectations ranging from a 2.1 million barrel build to a 6.5 million barrel draw.

Gasoline inventories are expected to be down by 1.5 million barrels at 207.2 million barrels. Estimates range from a 2 million barrel rise to a 3.7 million barrel fall.

Stocks of distillate fuel, mostly diesel, are forecast to have slipped by 300,000 barrels to 106.8 million barrels, with estimates ranging from an increase of 2 million barrels to a decline of 2 million barrels.

Refinery capacity use is seen down by 0.3 of a percentage point at 95.9%, with forecats ranging from a 0.4 percentage point increase to a 0.8 percentage point decline. One analyst didn't forecast refinery runs.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release the inventory data on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

 
                                    Crude    Gasoline  Distillates Refinery Use 
   Again Capital                    -1.6       -2.3       -1.1       -0.7 
   Rystad Energy                     2.1       -1.7       -1.7       -0.8 
   Excel Futures                    -2.8       -1.3       -0.9       -0.4 
   Spartan Capital Securities       -2.6       -3.7        1.7        n/f 
   Price Futures Group               2.0        2.0        2.0       unch 
   Ritterbusch and Associates       -6.5       -1.8       -2.0        0.4 
 
   AVERAGE                          -1.6       -1.5       -0.3       -0.3 
 

Note: Numbers in millions of barrels, with the exception of refinery use, which is in percentage points.

n/f = no forecast

unch = unchanged

Write to Anthony Harrup at anthony.harrup@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 18, 2026 13:21 ET (17:21 GMT)