West Texas Intermediate crude rose above $100 a barrel for the first time in two months after a government report showed U.S. supplies fell to the lowest level since September. Prices capped a second weekly gain. Stockpiles decreased to 367.6 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 20, the Energy Information Administration said. Supplies of gasoline and distillate fuel, including diesel and heating oil, also dropped amid rising demand. Refineries operated at the highest rate in five months. “We are seeing lower crude and product inventories and good demand, and $100 should be a pretty firm number for a while,” said Michael Lynch , president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts . “It supports expectations that the economy is getting stronger and demand should be higher.” WTI for February delivery rose 77 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $100.32 a barrel on the New […]