Crude -2.3 (vs. -0.5 fcst)
Distillates +1.0 (vs. -1.9 fcst)
Gasoline +5.6 (vs. +0.5 fcst)
NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell back in post-settlement trading on Tuesday after industry data showed a surprise increase in distillate stocks overall, even though heating oil supplies fell.
The API numbers, particularly the builds in distillates and gasoline stocks, "are certainly a bearish result relative to expectations," said Tim Evans, energy analyst at Citi Futures Perspective in New York.
The downside move for crude was limited as traders were awaiting what is considered a more definitive report, from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, due on Wednesday at 10:30 AM EST (1530 GMT).
U.S. heating demand this week is expected to average about 21 percent above normal, the National Weather Service said on Monday. Heating oil demand was expected to be 11 percent above normal.
Source: Reuters.