Natural gas futures retreated in early trading Friday amid a continued absence of impressive early winter heating demand in the latest forecasts. The December Nymex contract was down 17.3 cents to $5.702/MMBtu at around 8:50 a.m. ET.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

Weather models trended cooler overnight, but the outlook had been “about as bearish as it could be,” making it “no surprise” heating degree days were added, according to NatGasWeather.

“The pattern for the coming 15 days is still so exceptionally bearish that the odds favor a little more demand will be added today or over the weekend,” the firm said. 

Recent data as of early Friday suggested it might take until late November or early December for widespread cold to develop over the northern and eastern Lower 48, according to...