U.S. refinery utilization rose more sharply in the latest week, with the EIA reporting a 1.6% week‑over‑week increase as of March 11, 2026, compared with a 0.6% gain in the prior week. The data indicate an acceleration in the pace at which domestic refiners are ramping up activity.
The comparison is based on week‑over‑week changes, where the “actual” figure reflects the shift from the current week to the previous one, while the “previous” figure captures the change seen in the prior week versus its preceding week. The stronger current reading suggests refineries are stepping up operations more aggressively than earlier in the period, a development closely watched by energy and financial markets for signals on fuel supply and downstream demand trends.
