Ethanol production in the U.S. fell 0.3 percent, a second weekly decline, to 941,000 barrels a day, the lowest level since Dec. 9, according to an Energy Department report.

Output dropped consecutive weeks for the first time since the period ended Sept. 23. Stockpiles (DOESFETH) soared 4.1 percent to 19.5 million barrels, the highest level since the week ended June 10, the department said in a report released today in Washington.

Production of conventional gasoline blended with ethanol increased 2.5 percent to 4.84 million barrels a day, the first gain since Dec. 16 and the highest level since Dec. 23, the report showed.