The U. S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday that U. S. crude oil inventories rose by 2.4 million barrels in the week ending May 21.

Crude inventories rose to 365.1 million barrels during the week and remained above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year, the agency said.

It has been reported that Gasoline inventories for the week fell only slightly, declining by 200,000 barrels to 221.6 million barrels. Stockpiles of gasoline are also above the upper limit of the average range.

Supplies of distillate fuels, which include heating oil, fell by 300,000 barrels to 153.5 million barrels.

The energy agency also reported that inventories of finished gasoline fell, while gasoline blending component stockpiles rose during the week.

The report also noted that demand for motor gasoline is up 1.2 percent from the same period a year ago, averaging 9.2 million barrels per day, using a four-week rolling average. Demand for distillate fuel, at 4 million barrels per day, is up 15.8 percent compared with the four-week rolling average from a year ago.

The report further said that Jet fuel demand was up 7.3 percent compared with the same four-week stretch a year ago. (With Inputs from Agencies)