Traders and analysts head into Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with a full docket of data that could shift near-term market positioning. The Energy Information Administration's weekly crude oil inventory report - published at 9:30 AM ET - will be the focal point, with a consensus expecting a decline of 1.400 million barrels after a reported increase of 6.156 million the previous week. That weekly crude reading is widely followed because it offers a regular snapshot of commercial oil supplies in the United States and feeds into pricing dynamics for petroleum products and inflation measures.
Key releases and timing
The day begins with earlier-morning release points that quantify trade and price movements, then builds toward the EIA's suite of energy statistics and a Treasury auction around midday. The schedule below captures the main items market participants will want to track:
- 6:00 AM ET - Mortgage-related measures from the Mortgage Bankers Association, including MBA Mortgage Applications (previous -10.9%), MBA 30-Year Mortgage Rate (previous 6.30%), Mortgage Market Index (previous 347.1), MBA Purchase Index (previous 172.9), and Mortgage Refinance Index (previous 1,341.0). These weekly indicators provide a near-term read on housing demand, refinancing activity and borrowing costs.
- 7:30 AM ET - International and price indicators: Current Account (forecast -211.0B; previous -226.4B), Import Price Index month-over-month (forecast 0.6%; previous 0.2%), Export Price Index month-over-month (forecast 0.5%; previous 0.6%), Import Price Index year-over-year (previous -0.1%), and Export Price Index year-over-year (previous 2.6%). These data points document cross-border flows and the movement of goods price levels into and out of the U.S.
- 9:30 AM ET - Energy Information Administration weekly energy reports: EIA Crude Oil Inventories (forecast -1.400M; previous 6.156M), EIA Weekly Cushing Oil Inventories (previous 0.944M), Gasoline Inventories (previous -5.436M), Weekly Distillates Stocks (previous -2.527M), Weekly Gasoline Production (previous -0.462M), Refinery Crude Runs (previous 0.063M), Weekly Heatoil Stock (previous -0.081M), Weekly Distillate Fuel Production (previous -0.075M), Weekly Refinery Utilization Rates (previous 0.6%), and Weekly Crude Imports (previous -0.692M). The Cushing, Oklahoma storage metric is notable as the delivery point for the West Texas Intermediate benchmark.
- 12:00 PM ET - 5-Year Note Auction (previous yield 3.615%) - the Treasury note auction yield gives a view of investor demand for medium-term government debt and contributes to pricing signals in fixed income markets.
Why these releases matter
The EIA's weekly crude and product inventories are direct inputs to market assessments of supply and demand balance in the petroleum complex. A reported draw versus a prior build can alter expectations for near-term product availability and has the potential to influence gasoline and distillate prices. The Cushing inventory number is particularly relevant for traders focused on West Texas Intermediate pricing because Cushing serves as the benchmark delivery hub.
Separately, import and export price indexes help distinguish whether changes in trade figures reflect shifts in volumes or price levels. The current account reading quantifies the net balance of trade in goods, services and investment income, giving a periodic picture of cross-border flows that can interplay with currency and bond markets. Mortgage application and rate metrics provide a weekly pulse on housing activity and refinancing demand, which feed into consumption and credit dynamics.
Additional items on the daily radar
Beyond the headline EIA crude tally and the Treasury auction, market participants will note gasoline and distillate production and stock changes, refinery utilization and crude imports. Each of these measures provides incremental detail on where oil is moving through the domestic supply chain - from imports and processing at refineries to stocks of finished fuels held in storage.
For participants seeking continual updates, please consult our Economic Calendar for the latest scheduled times and releases.
Summary
Wednesday's calendar centers on the EIA's weekly crude oil inventories at 9:30 AM ET, with a forecasted draw of 1.400 million barrels following a prior reported increase of 6.156 million. Additional energy-specific releases at the same time will break out Cushing stocks, gasoline and distillate inventories, refinery activity and import flows. Earlier and later releases - including price indexes, current account data, mortgage activity and a 5-year Treasury auction - round out a data-heavy session that could influence commodity pricing, inflation expectations and fixed income market dynamics.