Natural-gas prices rose Wednesday ahead of weekly inventory data expected to show that stockpiles of the fuel fell last week by near-average levels for this time of year. Natural gas futures have dropped steeply this week. Demand for the natural gas as an indoor-heating fuel has been subdued due to moderate weather across much of the U.S., and inventories of the fuel are above average levels. Weather forecasts call for continued above-normal temperatures in the coming weeks. Analysts surveyed by The Wall Street Journal expect the Energy Information Administration to report Thursday that stockpiles fell by 159 billion cubic feet last week, close to the 165-bcf five-year-average draw for this time of year. The EIA is due to release inventory data at 10:30 a.m. EST. If the storage estimate is correct, inventories as of Jan. 29 totaled 2.927 trillion cubic feet, 20% above levels from a year ago […]