WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil supplies fell sharply in the week ending Friday, dropping by 5.6 million barrels to 385.8 million, the Energy Information Administration said.
Crude oil stockpiles dropped sharply after nine weeks of increases. Inventories remain well above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year, the agency said in Wednesday's report.
The EIA said supplies of motor grade gasoline rose by 1.8 million barrels to 212.4 million barrels and are in the upper half of the average range for this time of year.
Supplies of distillate fuels, which include home heating oil, rose by 2.6 million barrels to 113.5 million and are below the lower limit of the average range for this time of year.
The national average retail price of regular unleaded gasoline fell in the week by 2.1 cents to $3.272 per gallon. The price is 12.2 cents per gallon below the price in the same week of 2012, the EIA said.
