Working natural gas stocks at U.S. storage facilities increased by 103 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in the week ended May 8, the EIA said on Thursday.

According to the latest data by the U.S. Energy Information Agency, total gas in underground storage was at 2,422 Bcf as of last Friday. Stocks were 49.2% or 799 Bcf higher than at the same time last year.

They were also 20.6%, or 413 Bcf above the five-year average of 2,009 Bcf. The EIA said the total estimated volume is within the five-year historical range, Kallanish Energy notes.

The storage build is also smaller-than-expected by analysts, who forecast the volume to be a 107 Bcf week-on-week gain.

The weekly report supported U.S. natural gas futures gains, with front-month contracts for June delivery rising 4.5%, or 7.2 cents, to $1.688 per million British thermal units at 10:35 a.m. EDT.

This post appeared first on Kallanish Energy News.