U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose in the week ended Feb. 19, while refinery activity slowed more than expected, according to data released on Wednesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Crude oil stockpiles increased by 3.5 million barrels to 507.6 million barrels, marking the sixth rise in the past seven weeks, the EIA said. Analysts surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had predicted supplies would rise by 2.4 million barrels on the week. Oil stored at Cushing, Okla., the delivery point for U.S. stocks, increased by 333,000 barrels to 65 million barrels, the EIA said in its weekly report. Gasoline stockpiles fell by 2.2 million barrels to reach 256.5 million barrels. Analysts had been expecting supplies to fall by 300,000 barrels. Distillate stocks, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, declined by 1.7 million barrels to 160.7 million barrels, but are above the upper limit of the average range […]