U.S. Natural Gas: Why Today's Price Is $1.08 Below Next Year's

U.S. natural gas for immediate delivery cost about $2.89 per unit in July 2026, while contracts for a year later sit at $3.97 — a $1.08 gap. LNG export plant maintenance reduced gas flows in June. Output held steady at 110.3 Bcf/d (EIA, July 31). Higher futures reflect new export capacity and record 2027 electricity-sector demand forecast by the EIA.