Crude supplies up slightly in U.S.

WASHINGTON, March 19 (UPI) -- Crude oil inventories in the United States rose by 200,000 barrels for the week ending March 14, a government agency said.

At 311.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories were in the middle range for this time of year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported in a news release.

Motor gasoline inventories decreased by 3.5 million barrels during the latest reporting period but are near the upper limit of the average range, the report said.

Both finished gasoline inventories and gasoline blending component inventories decreased on the week, as did distillate fuel inventories, which declined by 2.9 million barrels, the EIA reported.

Propane and propylene inventories fell by 0.3 million barrels.

Total commercial petroleum stockpiles declined by 2.9 million barrels, the agency said.