The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report that crude inventories fell by 1.8 million barrels, or 0.5 percent, to 342.7 million barrels. This value is 16 percent above year-ago levels. During morning energy trading on July 22, crude prices fell $1.02 to $64.59 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On July 21, natural gas for August delivery closed at $3.846 per 1,000 cubic feet.