U.S. stocks of natural gas are rising much more slowly than normal for this time of year as a long, hot summer spurs record air-conditioning demand and gas burn by power generators. Natural gas stocks exhibit strong seasonal behavior, increasing between April and October, then drawing down during winter between November and March. But working gas stocks increased by just 22 billion cubic feet (bcf) last week, which was less than half the average increase of 55 bcf at the same time of year between 2011 and 2015 ( tmsnrt.rs/2b2xJan ). Stocks have increased by less than normal in 17 of the last 20 weeks. Inventories have risen by just 859 bcf since the start of April compared with a typical increase of 1,328 bcf in the […]