US natural gas supplies grew last week

[July 26, 2013]  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 41 billion cubic feet to 2.786 trillion cubic feet for the week ended July 19.

Analysts expected a rise of 47 billion to 51 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Plates, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

The inventory level was 1.6 percent below the five-year average of 2.832 trillion cubic feet, and 12.5 percent below last year's level of 3.185 trillion cubic feet, according to the government data.

Natural gas futures fell 3 cents to $3.67 per 1,000 cubic feet in New York.

[Associated Press]

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