US natural gas supplies grew last week

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation's natural gas supplies rose last week, the government said Thursday.

The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas in storage grew by 4 billion cubic feet to 3.877 trillion cubic feet in the week ended Nov. 29.

Analysts expected a rise of 9 billion to 13 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

The inventory level was 5.2 percent above the five-year average of 3.687 trillion cubic feet, and 0.7 percent above last year's level of 3.851 trillion cubic feet, according to the government data.

Natural gas futures fell 15 cents to $3.65 per 1,000 cubic feet in New York.