U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 95,000 barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday, a figure well below the 1.6 million-barrel increase forecast by analysts.
The build follows a prior week increase of 4.405 million barrels, marking a sharp deceleration in inventory accumulation. The smaller-than-expected rise suggests demand for crude may be outpacing expectations or that supply constraints are tightening, analysts said.
Crude prices extended gains after the data release, with market participants interpreting the inventory build as a bullish signal. The EIA report, published at 10:32 a.m. ET on Aug. 26, 2026, underscores a shift in crude market dynamics amid evolving supply and demand fundamentals.
