1108 ET - U.S. natural gas inventories rose less than usual last week, reducing the storage surplus over the five-year average to 160 Bcf from 167 Bcf the week before, EIA data show. Underground stocks rose by 30 Bcf to 3,214 Bcf in the week ended Aug. 28, compared with an average 37 Bcf injection for the week over the 2021-2025 period. The storage deficit against the year-earlier level widened to 50 Bcf from 30 Bcf. Analysts in a WSJ survey had expected a 29 Bcf increase. Nymex natural gas is up 0.3% at $2.965/mmBtu.