HOUSTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. crude oil refinery inputs increased in the week ending Nov. 9, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a report on Thursday.

According to the Weekly Petroleum Status Report, U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.4 million barrels per day (b/d) during last week, which was 24,000 b/d more than the previous week's average. Refineries operated at 90.1 percent of their operable capacity last week.

Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10.1 million b/d. Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging 5.0 million b/d.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 7.5 million b/d last week, down by 87,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 7.5 million b/d, 3.1 percent less than the same four-week period last year.

U.S. crude oil exports averaged 2.1 million b/d last week, down by 355,000 b/d from the previous week.

EIA estimated that U.S. crude oil production last week was 11.7 million b/d, up by 100,000 b/d from the previous week.