U.S. crude oil inventories increased by more than expected last week in a fourth consecutive build, while product stocks declined, according to U.S. government data.

U.S. crude oil stockpiles were expected to have risen last week, while distillate inventories likely fell and gasoline declined marginally, an extended Reuters poll showed on Wednesday.

Analysts estimated gasoline stockpiles rose by about 800,000 barrels last week, and distillate inventories, which include diesel and heating oil, dropped by about 3.5 million barrels. The rate of refinery utilization was estimated to be steady at 85% of total capacity in the previous week, the poll found.