By Anthony Harrup
U.S. crude oil inventories are expected to have risen last week, while gasoline and distillate stocks are seen falling, according to a survey by The Wall Street Journal.
Commercial crude stocks are seen up by 1.2 million barrels to 421 million barrels for the week ended Feb. 20, according to the average estimate of nine analysts and traders. Seven expect an increase and two predict a decline. Forecasts range from a build of 5 million barrels to a draw of 3.9 million barrels.
Gasoline inventories are forecast to have fallen by 500,000 barrels to 255.3 million barrels, with estimates ranging from a 2.5 million barrel drop to a 1.9 million barrel rise.
Stocks of distillate fuel, mostly diesel, are seen down 1.9 million barrels at 118.2 million barrels, with forecasts ranging from a decrease of 435,000 barrels to a drop of 3.2 million barrels.
Refinery capacity use likely edged up by one tenth of a percentage point to 91.1%, according to the survey. Estimates range from a 1 percentage point increase to a decline of 2 percentage points. Two analysts didn't forecast refinery runs.
The inventory data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled for release at 10:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Crude Gasoline Distillates Refinery Use
Again Capital 2.6 1.8 -1.2 0.8
Confluence Investment Management 2.0 -2.5 -2.0 -0.8
Rystad Energy 1.8 -0.3 -0.4 0.4
Excel Futures -3.9 -2.3 -3.2 0.6
Spartan Capital Securities 3.1 1.9 -2.9 n/f
Mizuho 2.0 -1.0 -2.0 -2.0
Price Futures Group -3.0 -2.0 -3.0 1.0
Ritterbusch and Associates 5.0 1.2 -1.0 0.7
Tradition Energy 1.1 -1.8 -1.4 n/f
AVERAGE 1.2 -0.5 -1.9 0.1
Note: Numbers in millions of barrels, with the exception of refinery use, which is in percentage points.
n/f = no forecast
unch = unchanged
Write to Anthony Harrup at anthony.harrup@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 24, 2026 12:06 ET (17:06 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
