The EIA reported a draw of -2,508 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. This draw was larger than the average estimate of -337 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were up in the five minutes following the announcement, to $113.95 from $113.90 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 89.00 MMBbls (-17.7%) to last year, and a deficit of 58.60 MMBbls (-12.4%) to the five-year average.
