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Today's crude oil market movements highlight ongoing volatility, driven by mixed inventory reports and concerns about global demand. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a crude oil inventory draw of 1.4 million barrels for the week ending December 6, following a significant draw of 5.1 million barrels the prior week. However, the smaller decline this week contrasts with the American Petroleum Institute's (API) earlier estimate of a slight build of 499,000 barrels. Despite the decline in crude inventories, sizable builds in fuel stocks, particularly gasoline, added to market pressures. Gasoline inventories increased by 5.1 million barrels during the week, with production averaging 10 million barrels per day, signaling robust refining activity. These figures contribute to the market's cautious sentiment, underpinned by persistent concerns over weak global demand growth. While inventory draws often support prices, larger-than-expected builds in refined products can offset such effects, as they reflect potentially slower consumption downstream. #eia #oilandgas #consulting #crude #production #inventories