The EIA reported a build of +1,448 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The build was smaller than the average estimate of +2,238 as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were up in the five minutes following the announcement, to $67.61 from $67.55 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 12.20 MMBbls (-2.7%) to last year, and a deficit of 23.00 MMBbls (-5.0%) to the five-year average.
