WASHINGTON (AFX) - U.S. crude oil stocks, measured by the American Petroleum Institute, fell 271,000 barrels to 321.7 mln in the week to May 4 from the previous week, traders said. They said that the report showed that year-on-year, crude stocks were up 14.61 mln barrels. Gasoline stocks increased 1.1 mln barrels to 199.9 mln. Year-on-year, gasoline stocks were down 842,000 barrels. Distillate fuel stocks fell 1.0 mln barrels to 104.7 mln. Year-on-year, distillate stocks were up 5.7 mln barrels. Crude oil imports declined by 892,000 barrels a day to average 9.0 mln barrels. Year-on-year, imports were down 288,000 bpd. Refineries operated at 95.6 pct of capacity, down from 95.8 pct in the previous week, the traders added.