US natural gas supplies grew last week

[September 21, 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 67 billion cubic feet to 3.496 trillion cubic feet for the week ended Sept. 14.

Analysts expected a rise of 64 billion to 68 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

The inventory level was 8.6 percent above the five-year average of 3.218 trillion cubic feet, and 10.1 percent above last year's level of 3.176 trillion cubic feet, according to the government data.

Natural gas futures rose 4 cents to $2.80 per 1,000 cubic feet in New York.

[Associated Press]

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