Inflation

Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers left their benchmark interest rate unchanged and near the highest level of this century – where it has held since mid-2023 – amid lingering inflation worries. However, Fed officials on Wednesday hinted that costs are nearing a healthy level. That could open the door for rate reductions and lower borrowing costs…

Unlike home heating demand amid one of the mildest winters on record, industrial consumption of natural gas is holding relatively steady due to ongoing robust economic activity and energy needs in the U.S. manufacturing sector. Industrial gas demand averaged 24.0 Bcf/d over the 30-day period through last week, according to Wood Mackenzie data. That was…

Slumping natural gas prices offset festering high prices in other corners of the economy and helped to keep overall inflation mostly in check last month. The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday its Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased at a rate of 3.2% in the 12-month period through February. That was up from 3.1% the…

Weak weather-driven demand and robust production intersected this winter to depress natural gas prices, deflating market bulls. But lower heating costs contributed to falling inflation levels, saving consumers money and supporting expectations for continued economic growth in 2024. The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday its Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased at a rate of…

For all the talk about weak weather-driven demand in 2023, a buoyant U.S. economy may complement mounting global energy needs and provide a key pillar of strength for natural gas markets in the form of steady industrial demand in the new year. Over much of 2023, elevated inflation and the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) aggressive interest…

Producers and others along the natural gas value chain are apprehensive about the substantial shift in trading momentum this year, but the sector’s price slump is playing an outsized role in drawing down inflation and easing recession worries. The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday its Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased at a 3.1% rate…

The U.S. inflation rate in October flattened month/month and slowed from the lofty 2022 pace, impacted by lower natural gas prices and moderating energy costs overall.  The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday its Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 3.2% from a year earlier, though that marked a substantial easing from the peak of 2022,…

ConocoPhillips on Thursday boosted its oil and natural gas production guidance for the remainder of the year and said it expects to spend more now that it has taken full control of the Surmont oilsands site in Alberta.  Full-year oil and natural gas production is now expected to come in at 1.82 million boe/d, up…

Natural gas prices crept up in July — boosted by heat waves and stronger cooling demand — but remained far below year-earlier levels. Overall U.S. inflation followed a similar trajectory, with key energy costs playing an outsized role in driving the headline figure. The U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday its Consumer Price Index (CPI)…