U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Rise by 8.7 Million Barrels in Week

U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories increased more than expected last week while refinery capacity use rose from a week before, according to data released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration.

Commercial crude-oil stockpiles excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, rose by 8.7 million barrels to 448.1 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 17, and were 1% below the five-year average for the time of year, the EIA said.