Crude oil supplies drop in U.S.

WASHINGTON, May 29 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories declined by 8.8 million barrels in the week ending May 23, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Thursday.

Crude inventories dropped to 311.6 million barrels and are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year, the report said.

Delays in tanker off-loading in the Gulf Coast contributed to the decline, the report said.

Motor gasoline inventories, down 3.2 million barrels in the week, are at the lower limit of their average range. Finished gasoline inventories were unchanged, while gasoline blending components declined.

Distillate fuel inventories, which includes heating oil, increased by 1.6 million barrels to a current supply of 109.4 million barrels.