US Strategic Petroleum Reserve crude stocks fall to lowest level since 1982
In short
US Department of Energy data show crude oil held in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 282.7 million barrels as of last week. Chinese outlets reported this as the lowest level since October 1982.
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Crude oil held in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to 282.7 million barrels, according to data published by the US Department of Energy. CLS, Jiemian and China News Service all reported that the figure, as of last week, is the lowest since October 1982. Yicai's item, published at 06:42 on 20 October, carried only a headline saying the reserve's crude stocks had fallen to their lowest level since 1982. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Jiemian said the Department of Energy released the data on 19 October local time and credited CCTV News. China News Service said it was citing a Reuters report of 19 October. The documents give no cause for the decline and no exact date for the measurement. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The documents give only the figure and the comparison with 1982, with no explanation of causes or consequences. Chinese business and official outlets carried the US data on 20 October.
Key facts
- US Department of Energy data show crude oil in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 282.7 million barrels as of last week. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The level is the lowest since October 1982, according to the reports. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yicai's headline also says the reserve's crude stocks fell to their lowest level since 1982. [ 1 ]
- Jiemian dated the Department of Energy release to 19 October local time and credited CCTV News. [ 3 ]
- China News Service said it was citing a Reuters report of 19 October. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Why the reserve's stocks fell None of the documents gives a cause or says what changed in the reserve.
- The exact date of the measurement The documents say only 'as of last week' and do not give a specific date.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yicai published its item on the reserve falling to the lowest level since 1982. [ 1 ]
- CLS reported the Department of Energy figure of 282.7 million barrels. [ 2 ]
- Jiemian published the figure, citing CCTV News and the Department of Energy release of 19 October local time. [ 3 ]
- China News Service reported the figure, citing Reuters. [ 4 ]