By Anthony Harrup
U.S. natural gas inventories likely posted a second consecutive triple-digit drop last week, reflecting an unusually cold start to December that drove up demand for heating, according to a survey by The Wall Street Journal.
Natural gas in underground storage is forecast to have fallen by 169 billion cubic feet to 3,577 Bcf in the week ended Dec. 12, according to the average estimate of 11 analysts, brokers and traders. Estimates range from a withdrawal of 155 Bcf to a withdrawal of 179 Bcf.
The expected storage draw compares with a five-year average withdrawal for the week of 96 Bcf, and would reduce the inventory surplus to 30 Bcf from 103 Bcf the week before.
The frosty early December weather led natural gas futures to spike to around $5.50 per million British thermal units, followed by a sharp selloff to around $4 as forecasts pointed to warmer weather for the second half of the month.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled to report natural gas storage data on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. EST.
Write to Anthony Harrup at anthony.harrup@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 17, 2025 12:14 ET (17:14 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.