U.S. commercial crude oil inventories declined last week but stockpiles of gasoline and distillate fuel posted gained, the Department of Energy said Wednesday in its weekly petroleum supply report.

In the week ended Jan. 20, the nation's commercial crude oil reserve dropped by 2.3 million barrels to 319.1 million. But the supply remained 11 percent above levels a year ago.

Gasoline supplies rose by 3.2 million barrels last week to 214. 8 million. However, the level was still about two percent below a year ago.

Supplies of distillate products, including diesel and heating oil, advanced 1.8 million barrels to 136.5 million, or 11 percent higher than year-ago levels.

The figures for U.S. commercial crude oil inventories do not include the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which currently holds crude oil of about 700 million barrels.

Source: Xinhua