US energy companies added 77 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas to storage in the week ended October 16, falling short of market expectations for an injection of 79 bcf. The increase was also below the 86 bcf added during the same period last year and the five-year average build of 87 bcf for the week from 2021 to 2025. Total gas inventories rose to 3.644 trillion cubic feet, standing 4% below year-earlier levels but 1% above the five-year average for this time of year. The latest figures followed an injection of 67 bcf in the previous week ended October 9, indicating that storage additions accelerated on a weekly basis despite remaining weaker than historical norms and analyst forecasts.