POLL-US crude stocks seen up on higher imports

NEW YORK, Aug 4 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil inventories were forecast to have increased by 100,000 barrels last week as imports rose and refinery utilization dipped, a Reuters preliminary poll of eight industry analysts showed on Monday.

Gasoline stocks were forecast to have declined by 1.3 million barrels, while distillate supplies, which include heating oil and diesel, were forecast to have increased by 1.8 million barrels, according to the average of the analysts' forecasts.

The analysts were polled ahead of the release Wednesday of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly inventory report for the week to Aug. 1. (Reporting by Gene Ramos; Editing by John Picinich)