US natural gas supplies grew last week

[October 19, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The nation's natural gas supplies rose last week, the government said Thursday.

The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas in storage grew by 51 billion cubic feet to 3.776 trillion cubic feet for the week ended Oct. 12.

Analysts expected a rise of 46 billion to 50 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

The inventory level was 7.1 percent above the five-year average of 3.527 trillion cubic feet, and 5 percent above last year's level of 3.595 trillion cubic feet, according to the government data.

Natural gas futures were unchanged at $3.47 per 1,000 cubic feet in New York.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.