With the market still left waiting for convincing signs of early summer heat, natural gas futures eased lower in early trading Friday. The June Nymex contract was down 2.2 cents to $2.168/MMBtu at around 8:50 a.m. ET.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Thursday reported a 78 Bcf injection into U.S. natural gas storage facilities for the week ended May 5, lighter than the 87 Bcf five-year average build and in line with pre-report surveys.

The print was roughly 2.6 Bcf/d loose versus the prior five-year average when compared to degree days and normal seasonality, according to analysts at Wood Mackenzie.

The latest EIA report shrank the current inventory surplus to the five-year average to 332 Bcf as of May 5, or plus 18.4%. 

However, subsequent storage reports...