U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Post Largest Weekly Build in 3.5 Years

U.S. crude oil stockpiles jumped 17.4 million barrels to 424.4 million in the week ending August 7, 2026 — the biggest weekly build in roughly 3.5 years, per EIA data reported by Reuters. The surge coincided with crude exports plunging to 3.06 million barrels per day, their lowest since November. When exports stall, domestic crude backs into storage, a dynamic worth watching at the gasoline pump.