(NAFB.com) – The Energy Information Administration says ethanol output rose to its highest level in almost a month while inventories declined slightly during the week ending on February 28. Production rose to an average of 1.093 million barrels a day during the week. That’s up from 1.081 million barrels a day, on average, and the highest since the week ending January 31. In the Midwest, output averaged 1.04 million barrels a day, up from 1.033 million the prior week and the highest level since January. The EIA says Gulf Coast production increased to 21,000 barrels a day from 17,000 the previous week. East Coast, Rocky Mountain, and West Coast production was unchanged at 12,000, 11,000, and 8,000 barrels per day, respectively. Data from the Energy Information Administration also showed that ethanol stockpiles fell for the first time in three weeks to 27.289 million barrels, down from 27.751 million barrels during the previous week.