The Energy Department said natural-gas inventories fell 32 billion cubic feet for the week ended Nov. 24. Global Insight expected a decline of 18 billion. Total stocks now stand at 3.417 trillion cubic feet, up 185 billion cubic feet from the year-ago level, and 230 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, the government data said. January natural gas rose 12.9 cents to $8.99 per million British thermal units after reaching an over two-month high of $9.05 before pulling back to $8.86 in mid-day trading.