Total US petroleum demand reached an average 19.3 million b/d in February—the highest level for the month since 2008, the American Petroleum Institute reported on Mar. 19. The amount represented a 1.5% year-to-year increase from February 2014’s nearly 19 million b/d. “Greater demand for gasoline and jet fuel and a colder-than-usual February brought total February deliveries back to pre-recession levels,” API Chief Economist John Felmy said. “At the same time, the continued strength of crude oil and refinery production ensured that stocks of crude and refined products remained high.” API said February’s US gasoline demand edged up 0.1% to an average 8.7 million b/d, its highest level for the month since 2009. Gasoline production averaged nearly 9.5 million b/d, a record for the month and 1.9% higher year-to-year. Distillate fuel production rose 3.8% year-to-year to a February record of more than 4.7 million b/d as […]