Crude oil prices fell slightly today after the Energy Information Administration reported inventories had risen by 8.5 million barrels in the week to May 6. This compared with an inventory build of 1.3 million barrels estimated for the previous week, which provided a brief relief for prices. In fuels, as distillate stocks reach a critically low level, the EIA reported inventory draws. In gasoline, the authority estimated an inventory draw of 3.6 million barrels for the week to May 6. This compared with a draw of 2.2 million barrels during the previous week. Gasoline prices hit an all-time high earlier this week, with the national average topping 4.35 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. Gasoline production last week averaged 9.7 million barrels daily, a slight increase on a week earlier, the EIA also said. In troubled middle distillates, the authority estimated an inventory decline of 900,000 barrels for last week, […]