Ahead of the Bell: Natural gas supplies

Analysts expect DOE to report US natural gas supplies decreased last week

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Energy Department is expected to report on Thursday that the nation's natural gas supplies shrank by 67 billion to 71 billion cubic feet in the week ended March 15, according to a survey of analysts by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

A draw of that size would be above the zero net change recorded in the comparable week a year ago and the five-year average draw of 26 billion cubic feet.

The Energy Information Administration releases its weekly report at 10:30 a.m. EDT.