U.S. Crude Oil Stocks Sit 6% Below Five-Year Average, EIA Reports

U.S. commercial crude inventories fell 1.7 million barrels to 409.7 million for the week ending July 10, 2026, the EIA reported on July 15. That puts stocks roughly 6% below the five-year seasonal average — a structural deficit that matters more than the weekly draw, with implications for refinery operations, freight pricing, and fuel margins through late summer.