For the week ending October 23:Crude oil inventories: −1.892 million barrels vs +0.015 million expected. Prior −3.060 million.Gasoline inventories: +3.870 million barrels vs −0.942 million expected. Prior −2.952 million.Distillate inventories: −1.462 million barrels vs −0.858 million expected. Prior +1.675 million.Cushing crude inventories: −0.624 million barrels. Prior +0.987 million.Refinery utilization: −0.6 percentage points vs −0.1 expected. Prior −0.1.Private API report released late yesterday, October 27:Crude oil: −2.031 million barrels, against a +0.800 million expected build.Gasoline: +2.390 million barrels.Distillates: +0.380 million barrels.Cushing: −0.453 million barrels.US weekly petroleum inventory data were mixed, with larger-than-expected draws in crude oil and distillates offset by a sizable surprise build in gasoline. The Energy Information Administration figures shown put the crude draw at 1.892 million barrels, compared with expectations for a marginal 15,000-barrel build.The crude decline broadly confirmed the 2.031-million-barrel draw reported by the American Petroleum Institute late yesterday. However, the EIA gasoline build of 3.870 million barrels exceeded the API increase, while distillates fell in the official figures after the private report indicated a build.Quick analysis: The crude and distillate draws could support oil prices, but gasoline is the main offset. Stocks increased sharply despite lower refinery utilization, raising questions about the balance between gasoline supply and demand. The report offers no clear standalone signal for Federal Reserve policy or the dollar; sustained energy-price moves matter more for the inflation outlook.Crude oil is trading at $102.29. That's up $2.40 on the day. The price remains above its 100 hour moving average at $100.98. On the top side the high price from yesterday came in near $102.85. The high-priced today has reached $102.46. Above that and a swing area between $104.46 and $105.21 would be a more ambitious target for buyers. Until the price can move back below the 100 hour moving average at $100.98 in the rising 200 hour moving average at $99.46, the buyers remain more in control (see technical analysis post from earlier today).What this report measures: The EIA’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report tracks US petroleum inventories, refinery activity, production and trade. Traders monitor weekly stock changes for clues about supply and demand, with unexpected draws normally supportive of prices and unexpected builds normally weighing on them. The private data released late yesterday showed: This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.