Natural Gas News: Inventory and Weather Headwinds Emerge as Market Eyes 200-Day Average

Futures Pressured by Bearish Inventory Data and Weak Demand

U.S. natural gas futures are slipping lower as traders respond to bearish storage data and a lack of weather-driven demand, with technical factors adding further pressure. Prices are testing the critical 200-day moving average at $2.906, a level that is dictating the broader trend, and risks remain skewed to the downside.

At 13:42 GMT, Natural Gas Futures are trading $2.883, down $0.047 or -1.60%.

Is Technical Pressure Signaling a Deeper Pullback?

The daily chart suggests ample room for additional downside movement, with the next significant support level marked at $2.199. Immediate resistance is seen at the 61.8% short-term retracement level of $2.995. A break above this could spark short-covering activity, but upside momentum would likely stall near the 50% retracement at $3.361. Until a clear reversal forms, price action remains vulnerable to further selling.

How Did the Latest EIA Report Rattle the Market?

Thursday’s EIA report fueled selling after a much larger-than-expected storage build. Inventories for the week ended April 18 surged by +88 Bcf, sharply above the consensus estimate of +75 Bcf and the five-year average build of +58 Bcf. This sizable increase came even as total stocks remain -20.2% lower year-over-year and -2.3% below the five-year seasonal average, underscoring tight overall supply but overshadowed by the near-term bearish build.

Could Renewable Energy Trends Keep a Lid on Prices?

Strong wind and solar generation were cited as major factors behind the weak drawdown in natural gas inventories. As renewable output expands, natural gas demand for power generation continues to face intermittent headwinds, particularly during mild weather periods. This dynamic weighed heavily on sentiment after the bearish EIA miss.

What Role Is Weather Playing in Suppressing Demand?

Weather forecasts through April 30 project near-ideal conditions across most of the U.S., with highs ranging from the 60s to 80s, and localized 90s across the southern states. With only light to very light national demand expected, near-term fundamentals offer little support to prices. Mild conditions reduce both heating and cooling loads, directly limiting natural gas consumption.

Market Forecast: Bearish Bias Prevails

Given the combination of bearish EIA data, weak weather-driven demand, strong renewable generation, and bearish technical signals, the short-term outlook for natural gas remains bearish. Traders should watch the $2.906 technical level closely, but a failure to hold above it opens the door for a deeper correction toward $2.199 support.

More Information in our Economic Calendar.