US crude oil inventories fell by 3.831 million barrels in the week ended January 2, 2026, following a 1.934 million barrel decline in the previous week and compared to market expectations for a 1.1 million barrel increase. At the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery hub, crude stocks rose by 728 thousand barrels, after a 543 thousand barrels rise in the previous period. Meanwhile, gasoline inventories rose sharply by 7.702 million barrels, following a 5.845 million barrels in the previous week, and much higher than forecasts of a 2.2 million-barrel build. Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 5.594 million barrels, compared with expectations for a 2.2 million-barrel increase.