Crude oil stores down 5.9 million barrels

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories dropped by 5.9 million barrels in the week ending Sept. 5, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell from 303.9 million barrels to 298 million barrels, during a week in which Hurricane Gustav held production back in many Gulf Coast refineries.

Gasoline inventories fell by 6.5 million barrels to 187.9 million barrels, while supplies of distillate fuels, which includes heating oil, dropped to 1.2 million barrels to 130.5 million barrels.

Finished gasoline and gasoline blending components inventories also fell during the week, EIA reported.