Breaking: U.S. gas inventories fall less than expected last week.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, released on Friday, showed a decrease in U.S. natural gas inventories, which fell by 93 billion cubic meters during the week ending December 20, less than the expected decline of 100 billion cubic meters. The previous week recorded a decrease of 125 billion cubic meters in U.S. gas inventories.

In terms of trading, January natural gas futures rose by 7.83% or 29 cents, reaching approximately $3.424 per million British thermal units, and the U.S. gas inventory data is likely to impact price levels.

Natural gas inventory data is a key indicator released weekly by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, measuring changes in the volume of underground inventories (in cubic feet) during the previous week. Although the data is U.S.-based, it also affects the Canadian dollar due to the significant size of Canada’s energy sector and contributes to determining natural gas prices in global commodity markets.