06:08 AM EDT, 03/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- U.S. crude oil inventories rose 6.9 million barrels to 456.2 million barrels in the week ended March 20, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its Weekly Petroleum Status Report released Wednesday.

Gasoline stocks, meanwhile, fell 2.6 million barrels to 241.4 million barrels, the EIA reported. Distillate stockpiles increased 3 million barrels to 119.9 million barrels week over week.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 6.5 million barrels per day, down 730,000 barrels per day from the previous week, according to the agency.

Crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.6 million barrels per day, an increase of 366,000 barrels per day week over week. Refineries operated at 92.9% of their operable capacity in the week ended March 20, the EIA said.

Gasoline production rose to 9.7 million barrels per day while distillate fuel production increased to 5 million barrels per day, the EIA reported.