Oil Traders Ask Why U.S. Inventory Math Isn’t Adding Up
- Adjustment at about negative 1 million b/d in past four weeks
- Production, large swings in data and timing may all be culprit
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Oil traders and analysts scrutinizing U.S. inventory data for signs of a market recovery are being confronted by an odd situation: the math just doesn’t add up.
Various government data sets including stockpiles, production, imports and exports are signaling that current official figures on at least some supplies are excessive. While it’s unclear where exactly the discrepancy lies, the difference could potentially signal a more bullish outlook for crude prices as they claw their way back after diving below zero in April.