U.S. commercial crude oil inventories rose more than expected in the week ended Feb. 17, the Energy Department said Thursday in its weekly petroleum report.

Data showed that the nation's commercial crude oil stockpiles increased 1.1 million barrels to 326.7 million, or 10 percent above year ago levels. Analysts had been expecting a gain of 700, 000 barrels for last week.

At the same time, gasoline reserves nudged up 100,000 barrels last week to 225.6 million, or less than one percent above year ago levels. The gain was less than the rise of one million barrels expected by analysts.

But supplies of distillates, including heating and diesel fuel, fell by 1.3 million barrels to 135.6 million, or 14 percent above year ago levels. The decline was steeper than the one million barrel decrease expected.

The figures for commercial crude oil do not include the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Source: Xinhua