Natural gas prices fall, ease inflation pressure
NEW YORK — The price of natural gas used to heat homes and generate electricity is plunging this year, thanks to a mild winter in the U.S. and Europe — bringing some relief to consumers and helping drive down inflation.
The fuel, which in the U.S. is extracted mainly from shale deposits in Texas and around Pennsylvania, accounts for nearly 25 percent of residential energy needs, making it a big driver in last year's worst bout of inflation in four decades. Since the start of 2023, U.S. natural gas prices have fallen 40 percent so far this year and Europe's prices are not far behind. Much warmer than expected weather throughout Europe and North America played a big part in allowing European supplies to hold out amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The winter has been mild enough that large swaths of the Alps have been mostly green instead of white and cold and snowy sections of the U.S. have spent most of the winter well above the freezing mark.
Big surpluses of gas are also helping push prices lower. U.S. inventories are forecast to end March 16 percent above the five-year average, according to the Energy Information Administration.
The sharp drop in energy prices comes amid a broader easing of inflation as the Federal Reserve and other central banks fight high prices by raising interest rates. Inflation is at about 6.5 percent, well below a year ago but still far above the central bank’s 2 percent target. The Fed said it will stay focused on fighting inflation until it's sure prices are on a sustained downward path.
Energy companies that made record profits last year are now feeling the pinch of falling prices. Natural gas producer EQT Corp. is down more than 8 percent this year after gaining 55 percent in 2022. Chesapeake Energy Corp. has lost more than 11 percent in 2023 after surging 46 percent last year.