In view of realized and expected labor market conditions and inflation, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1/2 to 3/4 percent. The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting some further strengthening in labor market conditions and a return to 2 percent inflation.

Igor Yusufov, Russia’s energy minister from 2001 to 2004, said U.S. shale producers wouldn’t attempt to enter core OPEC and Russia markets where prices are too low for them to compete. “The fact is that shale oil and gas are doing well in markets that start from a certain price,” he said in an email exchange with The Wall Street Journal.

Real GDP increased 1.6 percent in 2016 (that is, from the 2015 annual level to the 2016 annual level), compared with an increase of 2.6 percent in 2015.

U.S. Rig Count is up 93 rigs from last year's count of 619, with oil rigs up 68, gas rigs up 24, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is up 114 rigs from last year's count of 231, with oil rigs up 74 and gas rigs up 40.

"We urge the United States to respect the facts, speak and act cautiously to avoid harming the peace and stability of the South China Sea,"

EIA expects the Henry Hub natural gas spot price to average $3.55 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2017 and $3.73/MMBtu in 2018, both higher than the 2016 average of $2.51/MMBtu. Higher prices in 2017 and 2018 reflect natural gas consumption and exports exceeding supply and imports, leading to lower average inventory levels.

U.S. Rig Count is up 57 rigs from last year's count of 637, with oil rigs up 41, gas rigs up 15, and miscellaneous rigs up 1 Canadian Rig Count is up 92 rigs from last year's count of 250, with oil rigs up 59, gas rigs up 33, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged.

U.S. oil production will up 41 tbd, gas production will up 330 mcfd.

The sum total in November of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a monthly net TIC inflow of $23.7 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflows were $25.2 billion, and net foreign official outflows were $1.5 billion.

U.S. Rig Count is up 9 rigs from last year's count of 650, with oil rigs up 7, gas rigs up 1, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is up 88 rigs from last year's count of 227, with oil rigs up 60, gas rigs up 27, and miscellaneous rigs up 1.