EIA Natural Gas Storage Report: This Week's Data
Commercial analysis of the latest EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report. EIA publishes the report each Thursday at 10:30 AM ET; KilowattLogic updates this page after the current release is verified. The next scheduled report is October 15, 2026.
For the week ending October 2, 2026, EIA reported a net injection of 85 Bcf into natural gas storage. Total working gas in storage stands at 3,500 Bcf, which is 2% above the five-year average. Year-over-year, inventories are 130 Bcf (3.6%) below the same week in 2025.
What This Means: Commercial Buyer Analysis
EIA reported an 85 Bcf injection for the week ending October 2, raising Lower 48 working gas to 3,500 Bcf from 3,415 Bcf. Stocks were 68 Bcf (2.0%) above the five-year average and 130 Bcf (3.6%) below year-ago levels. Compared with September 25, KilowattLogic calculates that the weekly injection increased 21 Bcf (32.8%), the five-year surplus narrowed 11 Bcf (13.9%), and the year-over-year deficit narrowed 8 Bcf (5.8%). South Central held 1,076 Bcf, 25 Bcf (2.3%) below its five-year average; salt storage held 227 Bcf, 37 Bcf (14.0%) below average. Buyers with Gulf Coast, LNG-linked, or winter basis exposure should check regional deliverability alongside national inventories and ask how basis, transport, and balancing charges enter their contract. These storage comparisons do not establish a supplier quote or delivered gas or electricity rate.
Connected Intelligence
For the earlier September baseline, read the September 10 EIA storage report. For monthly supply-demand context, compare EIA's latest Natural Gas Monthly actuals in the natural gas monthly analysis. Then review the prior weekly print in the September 3 storage report. For broader procurement context, use the Natural Gas Hub.
October outlook: a forecast, not the weekly actual
EIA's October 6 Short-Term Energy Outlook, completed October 1, forecasts 3,850 Bcf in storage at October 31, about 2% above the five-year average. Its September forecast was 3,969 Bcf and 5% above average: KilowattLogic calculates a 119 Bcf downward revision. The weekly October 2 stock of 3,500 Bcf above is a separate observation with a different date.
EIA forecasts annual Henry Hub spot prices of $3.48/MMBtu in 2026 and $3.16/MMBtu in 2027. These national forecasts do not include your delivery basis, supplier margin, transport charges, or utility tariff. Review the official October natural gas outlook, then compare your renewal terms and operating flexibility.
About This Report
The EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report is published every Thursday at 10:30 AM ET by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It measures the net change in underground natural gas inventories during the prior week.
This is one of the most closely watched weekly fundamental data points in energy markets. Large injections can support a looser supply read, while withdrawals or narrowing surpluses can tighten the market read. Because natural gas often sets the marginal cost of electricity in wholesale power markets including PJM, ERCOT, NYISO, ISO-NE, MISO, CAISO, and SPP, the storage report has direct implications for gas-indexed electricity risk. It is still not a delivered-rate forecast by itself.
Recent Weekly Reports
| Week Ending | Net Change (Bcf) | Total (Bcf) | vs 5-Yr Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2, 2026 | +85 | 3,500 | +68 Bcf (2%) | LATEST |
| September 25, 2026 | +64 | 3,415 | +79 Bcf (+2.4%) | |
| September 4, 2026 | +40 | 3,254 | +148 Bcf (+4.8%) | Analysis → |
| August 28, 2026 | +30 | 3,214 | +160 Bcf (+5.2%) | Analysis → |
| August 21, 2026 | +15 | 3,184 | +167 Bcf (+5.5%) | Analysis → |
| August 14, 2026 | +16 | 3,169 | +185 Bcf (+6.2%) | Analysis → |
| August 7, 2026 | +36 | 3,153 | +198 Bcf (+6.7%) | Analysis → |
| July 31, 2026 | +33 | 3,117 | +195 Bcf (+6.7%) | Analysis → |
| July 24, 2026 | +28 | 3,084 | +185 Bcf (+6.4%) | Analysis → |
| July 17, 2026 | +32 | 3,056 | +183 Bcf (+6.4%) | Analysis → |
| July 10, 2026 | +41 | 3,024 | +181 Bcf (+6.4%) | Analysis → |
| July 3, 2026 | +61 | 2,983 | +185 Bcf (+6.6%) | Analysis → |
| June 26, 2026 | +87 | 2,922 | +175 Bcf (+6.4%) | Analysis → |
| June 19, 2026 | +76 | 2,835 | +152 Bcf (+5.7%) | Analysis → |
| June 12, 2026 | +73 | 2,759 | +151 Bcf (+5.8%) | |
| May 29, 2026 | +95 | 2,578 | +138 Bcf (+5.7%) | Analysis → |
| May 22, 2026 | +92 | 2,483 | +144 Bcf (+6.2%) | Analysis → |
| May 15, 2026 | +101 | 2,391 | +149 Bcf (+6.6%) | Analysis → |
| May 8, 2026 | +85 | 2,290 | +140 Bcf (+6.5%) | Analysis → |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Updated weekly.
Act on the Data
Weekly storage can affect gas benchmarks and gas-indexed power risk, but regional basis, tariffs, load shape, and contract terms determine the delivered result. Use our tools to place the data in procurement context.