US energy firms injected 32 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas into storage in the week ended July 17, 2026, slightly below market expectations for a 35 bcf build, according to EIA data. The increase compares with a 27 bcf injection during the same week last year and a five year average build of 30 bcf. Total working gas in storage rose to 3.056 trillion cubic feet. Inventories were 0.5% below levels recorded a year earlier but remained 6.4% above the five year seasonal average, pointing to relatively comfortable supply conditions. The latest build followed a 41 bcf injection in the previous week ended July 10.