WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - U.S consumers will face tight gasoline supplies through the upcoming summer driving season, and crude oil imports will need to average 10 million barrels a day so refiners can supply more motor fuel, the government warned on Thursday.
"With gasoline inventories already below the bottom end of the normal range ... it is difficult to see how gasoline markets will not remain tight, at least through this upcoming summer driving season," the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report on the oil market.
The Energy Department's analytical arm said U.S. oil imports need to average about 10 million barrels a day as spring approaches so refiners will have enough crude to process into gasoline and meet driving demand.