FX.co ★ US Crude Oil Stocks Fall for 1st Time in 5 Weeks

US crude oil inventories fell by 4.45 million barrels in the final week of August 2026, marking the first decline in five weeks. This followed a modest increase of 0.095 million barrels in the previous week and far exceeded expectations for a 1.1 million-barrel draw. Stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub edged up by 0.08 million barrels over the same period. Refinery crude runs increased by 0.103 million barrels per day. Gasoline inventories declined by 1.173 million barrels, matching projections for a 1.173 million-barrel draw. Meanwhile, distillate stockpiles—which include diesel and heating oil—rose by 0.796 million barrels, their first increase in five weeks, contrary to forecasts for a 1.3 million-barrel decrease.