Against a backdrop of generally unimpressive heating demand expectations, natural gas futures eased lower early Thursday as traders awaited the latest round of government inventory data to deliver a potential market-moving signal. The December Nymex contract was down 2.6 cents to $5.644/MMBtu at around 8:45 a.m. ET.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

Surveys ahead of the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) weekly storage report, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET, have been pointing to an above-average net injection in the mid-60s Bcf for the week ended Oct. 29.

A Reuters survey showed injection estimates ranging from 47 Bcf to 71 Bcf, with a median build of 64 Bcf. A Wall Street Journal survey landed at an average build expectation of 64 Bcf, with estimates ranging from increases of 47 Bcf to 74 Bcf. Twelve...