1.   A jump in crude imports soothed any lingering concern that a halt in Iraqi oil exports would reduce supply.

2.   Crude imports have flooded the market in recent weeks, overcoming robust demand for gasoline, which peaks this time of year.

3.   Crude imports have risen this year as manufacturers boosted production before an April tax increase.

4.   Crude inventories rose last week as U.S. refiners scaled back operations and crude imports jumped to record highs, the American Petroleum Institute said after trading yesterday.

5.   Crude oil futures soared amid perceptions U.S. crude imports are set to fall just as demand increases from domestic refiners pushing to replenish lean heating oil and gasoline inventories.

6.   Crude imports have flooded the market in recent weeks, overcoming robust demand for gasoline during the vacation season.

7.   Crude oil prices could fall next week amid a rise in U.S. crude imports and waning speculation that Europe might join a long-standing U.S. ban on Iranian oil imports.

8.   Heavy reliance on Persian Gulf crude imports makes the United States vulnerable to price spikes, supply interruptions and a U.S. trade imbalance, they say.

9.   In turn, banks could become wary about financing crude imports.

10.   Since demand for crude imports is linked to industrial production, the decline could signal that manufacturers are cutting output, analysts said.