Crude prices rose slightly yesterday after a US government report showed a massive increase in crude stockpiles last week.

The Energy Department said crude inventories rose by 9.4 million barrels in the week ended Aug. 15, after a big gain in imports. The figure is much higher than the average analyst forecast for a 1.7 million-barrel increase.

Meanwhile, gasoline inventories shrank by a larger-than-expected 6.2 million barrels to below-average levels, distillate inventories, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, rose by less than expected.

Light, sweet crude for September delivery rose 45 US cents to US$114.62 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after rising as high as US$117.03 before the inventory data was released.