US crude oil output falls in December for first time since May

U.S. crude oil production edged lower in December to 11.85 million barrels per day, its first decline since May, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in a monthly report on Thursday.

Production fell 56,000 bpd from a record 11.91 million bpd in November, the agency said.

While output rose in Texas and North Dakota, the largest onshore oil-producing states, the gains were offset by production declines in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.