U.S. heating, transport fuel supplies fall

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. supplies of critical heating oil and transportation fuels fell last week, the Energy Department said Thursday.

Gasoline supplies for the week ending Dec. 23 were down 1.2 million barrels, putting them in the lower half of their average range.

Supplies of diesel fuel and heating oil, known collectively as distillates, were off 900,000 barrels and are just above the lower end of their average range for this time of year.

U.S. crude oil inventories last week rose by a slim 100,000 barrels. At 322.6 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are well above the upper end of the average range for this time of year.