The Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its weekly report today on the status of petroleum inventories in the United States. Here are some highlights: Crude oil inventories increased by 1.3 million barrels (MMbbl) to a total of 432.4 MMbbl. At 432.4 MMbbl, inventories are 7.2 MMbbl below last year (1.6%) and are 2% below the five-year average for this time of year. Inventories in Cushing, OK, the NYMEX delivery point, fell 0.5 million barrels to a total of 34.2 million barrels. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) rose 600,000 barrels from the prior week and stands at 355.0 million barrels, 4.5% below ... (full story)