U.S. natural-gas prices fell Thursday as winter moved toward its final months with gas supplies strong across the country. Natural-gas futures were down nearly 3 percent in midday trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and are almost 8 percent below prices a week ago. The winter has been colder than normal in many parts of the United States, but some forecasts see temperatures moderating in mid-February, creating some uncertainty about how much natural gas will be used before spring and warmer weather arrive. The Energy Department said Thursday that the amount of natural gas in underground storage fell last week, but supplies remain 1.2 percent above the five-year average. In other energy trading, oil prices fell on a series of disappointing economic news, with benchmark oil for February delivery down more than $1 to below $87 a barrel.
