US energy firms withdrew 71 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas from storage in the week ended January 9, 2026, well below market expectations for a 90 bcf draw, as warmer-than-normal weather kept heating demand low. The withdrawal compares with a 227 bcf draw during the same week last year and a five-year average draw of 146 bcf for this time of year. Total natural gas stockpiles fell to 3.185 trillion cubic feet (tcf). That level is about 1% above inventories in the same week a year ago and roughly 3.4% above the five-year average for the period. In the prior week ended January 2, utilities withdrew 119 bcf of gas from storage.