The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas in storage grew by 58 billion cubic feet to 2.745 trillion cubic feet for the week ended July 12.
Analysts expected a rise of 66 billion to 70 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.
The inventory level was 1.2 percent below the five-year average of 2.779 trillion cubic feet, and 13.1 percent below last year's level of 3.159 trillion cubic feet, according to the government data.
Natural gas rose 14 cents to $3.77 per 1,000 cubic feet in New York. |