FX.co ★ U.S. Refinery Utilization Contraction Eases as Weekly Decline Narrows to 0.5%

The latest EIA data show U.S. refinery utilization rates remain under pressure, but the pace of decline has eased week-over-week. For the week ending 22 April 2026, refinery utilization fell by 0.5% compared with the prior week, a notably smaller contraction than the previous reading of -2.4%.

On a week-over-week basis, the “actual” figure reflects this most recent 0.5% drop in utilization, while the “previous” figure captures the sharper 2.4% decrease seen in the prior comparison period. The moderation in the decline suggests that, while refiners are still trimming activity, the most aggressive pullback may be behind them for now.

Traders and analysts monitoring U.S. product supply and seasonal demand will be watching subsequent EIA releases closely to see whether utilization stabilizes, resumes growth, or returns to steeper cuts in the coming weeks.