The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas in storage grew by 72 billion cubic feet to 2.605 trillion cubic feet for the week ended June 28.
Analysts expected a rise of 70 billion to 74 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.
The inventory level was 1.1 percent under the five-year average of 2.635 trillion cubic feet, and 15.9 percent below last year's level of 3.096 trillion cubic feet, according to the government data.
Natural gas futures fell 2 cents to $3.63 per 1,000 cubic feet in New York. |