To: Andrew~ who wrote (14915 ) 12/10/2015 12:35:56 PM From: Goose94 Respond to of 203376 Natural Gas Futures Slip despite Decline in Inventory Natural gas futures prices slid after Weekly Natural Gas inventories showed a decline in supply and warmer-than-usual upcoming weather across the United States. The January contract in Natural Gas futures was down 0.24 percent at 2.056 on Thursday. Prior to the report, natural gas futures were up more than 1 percent. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Thursday that U.S. Natural Gas stocks decreased by 76 billion cubic feet for the week ending December 4. Analysts were expecting a storage withdrawal of around 60 billion cubic feet. The five-year average for the week is a withdrawal of around 79 billion cubic feet, and last year’s withdrawal for the week totaled 51 billion cubic feet. For the rest of this week and well into next, temperatures across the United States are expected to be well above normal. This weather pattern cuts the demand for heating and with it the demand for natural gas. Temperatures are likely to be 10 to 25 degrees warmer than usual for the next several days and demand for natural gas is expected to remain lower than normal. In other U.S. economic data, Weekly Jobless Claims rose 13,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 282 thousand for the week ending Dec. 5—the highest level in five months, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Last week's claims were unrevised. Import Prices in November dropped 0.4 percent last month after a revised 0.3 percent decrease in October, according to a report from the U.S. Labor Department. Import prices have declined in 15 of the last 17 months. Economists had forecast import prices falling 0.7 percent after a previously reported 0.5 percent drop in October. The report also showed export prices decreased 0.6 percent last month after slipping 0.2 percent in October. The November Treasury Budget is due at 1 p.m. CT today. On Friday, the November Producers Price Index is due, as well as November Retail Sales, October Business Inventories, and the Michigan Consumer Sentiment report for December. RJOF Editorial Team