Yes. It's the crude stocks number from the EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report — the same weekly print that moves oil markets — refreshed on the report's real schedule, not simulated.

Does it need an API key?

The saver itself doesn't, but the site's data pipeline does: a free EIA API key (eia.gov/opendata) must be configured, then the feed builds automatically. Without it the saver says so on screen.

Is a build good or bad?

Neither, inherently — a build can mean weak demand or healthy supply, and a draw can mean strength or scarcity. That's why the saver colours them neutrally instead of scoring them.

Does it work offline?

No. It reads a small JSON feed over the internet; offline it shows a short notice instead of stale numbers.

Yes — free, no download, in your browser, and the EIA key it relies on is free too. ESC exits.

Why are Strategic Petroleum Reserve barrels excluded?

EIA reports the reserve as a separate series from commercial crude stocks, so leaving it out keeps this chart to the commercial inventory.

When is the weekly report published?

EIA publishes a release schedule; recent reports have come out midweek, covering stocks as of the end of the previous week. Check the schedule for holiday changes.

Does a stock build always push oil prices down?

Not reliably. Prices react to many factors, including how the number compares with expectations, demand outlook and production decisions.

Weekly Oil Inventories Screensaver

The Weekly Oil Inventories screensaver charts real US commercial crude oil stocks (excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) from the EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report, with each week's build or draw in the headline. The data pipeline needs a free EIA API key. It's free, needs an internet connection, and ESC exits.

How the Weekly Oil Inventories screensaver works

A pipeline script pulls a year of weekly US commercial crude stocks from the EIA into content/oilinventories.json — it needs a free EIA API key, and until one is set the saver shows a plain notice.

The 52-week series is drawn as an area chart in the house style, with the level converted to millions of barrels.

The headline shows the latest level plus the week's change — ↑ BUILD in the accent colour or ↓ DRAW in red, with no judgement either way, since what's bullish depends on which side of the trade you're on.

A dashed reference line marks the 52-week average, so you can see whether stocks sit above or below a typical week.

The weekly oil report and what it counts

The US Energy Information Administration publishes the Weekly Petroleum Status Report, a set of tables covering the US petroleum balance sheet, inputs and production by PAD District, refiner and blender net production, crude and product stocks, and imports and exports. Stocks are reported as of the end of each period, in thousand barrels, and EIA notes that totals may not equal the sum of components because of independent rounding.

The figure here is commercial crude stocks. EIA defines them as domestic and Customs-cleared foreign crude held at, or in transit to, refineries and bulk terminals, plus stocks in pipelines; lease stocks are excluded. Crude oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is listed as a separate series. A build means stocks rose over the week, and a draw means they fell.

A single week is a thin basis for conclusions, so analysts commonly look at multi-week trends. EIA publishes an errata sheet for corrections to the report, and its release schedule shows when each week's data is due, which can shift around holidays. Prices respond to many factors besides this one number.

A worked example

A hurricane week in the Gulf might print 415.3M bbl · ↓ DRAW −6.2M bbl this week with the curve dipping well under the dashed average — refineries pulling from storage while platforms sit shut. In Multi-view it pairs naturally with Natural Gas Storage Levels for an energy-inventories wall.

Settings & tips

Show 52-week average — hides or shows the dashed reference line marking the year's average stock level.

Frequently asked questions

Is this real data?: Yes. It's the crude stocks number from the EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report — the same weekly print that moves oil markets — refreshed on the report's real schedule, not simulated.
Does it need an API key?: The saver itself doesn't, but the site's data pipeline does: a free EIA API key (eia.gov/opendata) must be configured, then the feed builds automatically. Without it the saver says so on screen.
Is a build good or bad?: Neither, inherently — a build can mean weak demand or healthy supply, and a draw can mean strength or scarcity. That's why the saver colours them neutrally instead of scoring them.
Does it work offline?: No. It reads a small JSON feed over the internet; offline it shows a short notice instead of stale numbers.
Is it free?: Yes — free, no download, in your browser, and the EIA key it relies on is free too. ESC exits.
Why are Strategic Petroleum Reserve barrels excluded?: EIA reports the reserve as a separate series from commercial crude stocks, so leaving it out keeps this chart to the commercial inventory.
When is the weekly report published?: EIA publishes a release schedule; recent reports have come out midweek, covering stocks as of the end of the previous week. Check the schedule for holiday changes.
Does a stock build always push oil prices down?: Not reliably. Prices react to many factors, including how the number compares with expectations, demand outlook and production decisions.

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