1532 ET - U.S. natural gas futures inch down in rangebound trade, with the Nymex front month settling down 0.4% at $2.747/mmBtu for a 16% monthly loss. Demand firmed with power-sector use near 49.5 Bcf/d and exports to Mexico rising to 8.4 Bcf/d,while LNG held steady around 18.1 Bcf/d, Gelber & Associates says in a note. "That pickup in demand is running into a supply side that's still comfortably ahead of it, though," the firm adds.