Predictions For Wednesday's EIA [Energy Information Administration] Report

Michael Fitzpatrick, an analyst at Man Financial, expects the data to show fourth-weekly climb in crude supplies, up 1.8 million barrels for the week ended May 11. Wachovia Corp. expects crude supplies to be unchanged, but a Platts' survey shows that analysts are generally looking for a climb of 200,000 barrels.

Fitzpatrick expects to see a second-weekly climb in motor gasoline supplies of 500,000 barrels, and an increase of 1.1 million barrels in distillate inventories. Wachovia predicts a rise of 1.25 million barrels in gasoline inventories and a rise of 250,000 barrels for distillates. And the Platts' survey calls for a 900,000-barrel increase in gasoline and a 1.4 million-barrel rise in distillates.