U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Increased More Than Expected

U.S. crude oil, gasoline and distillate fuel inventories increased more than expected last week as refineries ramped up their capacity use, according to data released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration.

Commercial crude-oil stockpiles, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, rose by 1.6 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 24 to 449.7 million, which is slightly above the five-year average for the week, the EIA said.