Mucahithan Avcioglu
07 October 2026•Update: 07 October 2026
Gasoline inventories fell in four of the US’ five petroleum reporting regions last week, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data released Wednesday, underscoring an uneven supply picture as G7 economies move to release emergency reserves to ease energy market pressures.
Midwest stocks decreased by 421,000 barrels to 41.41 million for the week ending Oct. 2, leaving inventories 12.7% below their year-earlier level.
The Gulf Coast recorded the largest weekly decline, with stocks falling 1.83 million barrels to 75.04 million barrels. Inventories also decreased on the West Coast and in the Rocky Mountain region.
An East Coast increase of 2.8 million barrels offset the declines, lifting nationwide gasoline inventories by 382,000 barrels to 204.74 million.
Despite the weekly increase, US stocks remained 6.5% below a year earlier. All five regions held less gasoline than during the comparable week of 2025, with the Midwest recording the steepest annual decline.
G7 leaders agreed Oct. 2 to implement a coordinated release of 100 million barrels through the International Energy Agency over four months, including a substantial diesel release within the first 20 days.
The statement linked the release to implementing commitments made in March, taking account of volumes already released.
Leaders also pledged to coordinate refinery maintenance to prevent simultaneous shutdowns and temporarily increase utilization rates where feasible, while encouraging greater global production of refined products, particularly diesel.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to avoid restrictions on energy exports between G7 countries and urged producers to refrain from bans that could worsen market tensions.
