In his first briefing in months focused on the pandemic, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the outbreak would probably get worse before it gets better, one of his first recent acknowledgements of the spread of the problem.Industry group American Petroleum Institute (API) reported U.S. crude inventories rose last week by 7.5 million barrels compared with expectations for a draw of 2.1 million. Brent crude fell 32 cents, or 0.7%, to $44 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 33 cents, or 0.8%, to $41.59. Oil prices climbed about $1 the previous day, reaching their highest since March 6. Economic data from Japan, the world’s fourth-largest oil consumer, also weighed on prices. Factory activity contracted for a 15th straight month in July, indicating lower economic activity because of the pandemic is extending into the third quarter. Oil prices rose on Tuesday on optimism for a COVID-19 vaccine and after European Union lenders agreed on a 750 billion-euro ($859 billion) fund to prop up coronavirus-hit economies.