The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported that U.S. crude inventories rose by 10.2 million barrels for the week ended Dec. 9. On average, analysts forecasted a decline of 3.5 million barrels, according to a poll conducted by S&P Global Commodity Insights. The EIA also showed weekly inventory gains of 4.5 million barrels for gasoline and 1.4 million barrels for distillates. The analyst survey had called for increases of 3.2 million barrels for gasoline and 2.5 million barrels for distillates. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Okla., Nymex delivery hub climbed by 500,000 barrels for the week, the EIA said. January West Texas Intermediate crude CLF23 was up 54 cents, or 0.7%, at $75.93 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $76.51 before the supply data.
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