By Anthony Harrup
U.S. natural gas inventories likely fell more than usual last week, turning the surplus over the five-year average to a deficit for the first time since April.
Gas in underground storage is expected to have fallen by 169 billion cubic feet to 3,410 Bcf in the week ended Dec. 19, according to the average estimate of eight analysts, brokers and traders surveyed by The Wall Street Journal. Estimates range from a withdrawal of 160 Bcf to a withdrawal of 177 Bcf.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled to report natural gas storage for last week on Monday, Dec. 29, at 12 p.m. ET. The release was rescheduled after President Trump ordered federal government departments and agencies to close on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 for the Christmas holiday.
It would be a third consecutive triple-digit weekly storage withdrawal after an unusually cold start to December drove up demand for heating. It compares with the five-year average withdrawal for the week of 110 Bcf, and would put stocks 27 Bcf below the average, compared with a 32 Bcf surplus the week before.
Write to Anthony Harrup at anthony.harrup@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 23, 2025 13:39 ET (18:39 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.