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Natural gas is one of the most unpredictable commodities traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). National market prices fluctuate, up and down, depending on several factors such as unusually hot weather and competing fuel costs. And, because natural gas is clean, efficient, and reliable, it has become increasingly popular for use in homes, businesses, and electric power-generation. All of these factors have contributed to the increase in natural gas
prices.
In August
2005,
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath significantly disrupted natural gas production capability off the shores of Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama. The
storm impacted hundreds of offshore wells, dozens of onshore processing facilities,
and miles of pipeline. As the industry rebuilds itself in the region, short term spikes in the price of natural gas are likely, resulting from the more limited supplies that are available to meet the remaining demand. It remains to be seen whether any long lasting effects may
surface.
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