US energy firms withdrew a larger-than-usual 119 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas from storage in the week ended January 2, 2025, exceeding market expectations and reducing total inventories to 3.261 trillion cubic feet (tcf). Storage levels are now about 3.6% below the same week last year but remain roughly 1% above the five-year average for this time of year. The latest draw compares with a 51 bcf withdrawal during the same week a year ago and a five-year average draw of 92 bcf. In the prior week ended December 26, utilities withdrew 38 bcf of gas from storage.