Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data for the Week Ending October 17, 2008

U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 14.6 million barrels per day during the week ending October 17, up 447 thousand barrels per day from the previous week's average. Refineries operated at 84.8 percent of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production dropped last week, averaging about 9.0 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging 4.4 million barrels per day.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 10.4 million barrels per day last week, up 239 thousand barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports have averaged about 10.0 million barrels per day, 5 thousand barrels per day below the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged nearly 1.1 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 181 thousand barrels per day last week.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 3.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 311.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are in the upper half of the average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 2.7 million barrels last week, and are at the lower boundary of the average range. Both finished gasoline inventories and gasoline blending components inventories increased last week. Distillate fuel inventories rose by 2.2 million barrels, and are near the lower limit of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories decreased by 0.1 million barrels last week and remain below the lower limit of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories increased by 9.5 million barrels last week, and are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year.