US natural gas supplies grow less than expected

NEW YORK (AP) -- The government reported Thursday that the nation's natural gas supplies grew again last week.

Natural gas held in underground storage in the lower 48 states increased by 28 billion cubic feet from the week before, to 1.607 trillion cubic feet. Analysts surveyed by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Co. forecast an increase of 31 billion to 35 billion cubic feet.

The current level is 7.9 percent below year-ago supplies and 0.6 percent above the five-year average.

Natural gas for May delivery jumped after the report, adding 7.2 cents at $4.2140 per million BTU on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

(Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/US-natural-gas-supplies-grow-apf-2469981833.html?x=0&.v=1)