Every Wednesday at 10:30 AM Eastern Time, the U.S. Energy Information Administration releases its Weekly Petroleum Status Report — one of the most market-moving data points in the energy world. Crude oil prices frequently move 1-3% within minutes of the release.
What the Report Measures
The report tracks commercial crude oil inventories at refineries, tank farms, and pipeline terminals across the U.S. It also reports gasoline stocks, distillate (diesel/heating oil) stocks, refinery utilization rates, and crude oil imports and production estimates.
Why It Moves Markets
Inventories are the most direct real-time signal of supply-demand balance. A larger-than-expected drawdown (decline) suggests demand is outpacing supply, which is bullish for prices. A larger-than-expected build suggests oversupply, which is bearish. Traders compare the actual number to the consensus analyst estimate.