US crude and gasoline inventories fell last week, distillates rose, EIA says

DENVER, Sept. 2 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories declined last week, while distillate stocks rose, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell by 4.5 million barrels to 424.5 million barrels in the week ended August 28, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.1 million-barrel draw.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 80,000 barrels in the week, the EIA said.

Refinery crude runs rose by 103,000 barrels per day in the week, the EIA said, while utilization rates were up by 0.6 percentage points in the week to 98%.

U.S. gasoline stocks fell by 1.2 million barrels in the week to 205.7 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.8 million-barrel draw.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 0.8 million barrels in the week to 104.2 million barrels, versus expectations for a 1.3 million-barrel drop, the EIA data showed.

Net U.S. crude imports fell last week by 79,000 barrels per day, the EIA said.