Genscape coal burn index down 4 pct for wk

HOUSTON, July 10 (Reuters) - U.S. consumption of coal fell
4 percent from the previous week, and was 15 percent below the
same week last year, Genscape said Friday.

In the East, coal consumption for the week ended July 9 was
off 6 percent from the previous week and down 15 percent from
the same week a year ago.

In the West, coal demand was even with last week but 9
percent below the same week a year ago.

Genscape attributed the declines partly to the July 4
holiday but said the dropoff also is due to weak power demand
in a recession and even greater weakness in coal demand.

"The pressure from from high gas inventories is increasing
gas burn at the expense of coal," Genscape said.

The regional indexes are calculated separately from the
national index. They do not always add up to a number equaling
the separately calculated U.S. total, Genscape has said.
Region July 9 Last wk Yr ago Pct wk Pct yr
Nation 18.76 19.57 21.97 -6 -15
East 16.40 17.43 19.41 -4 -15
West 2.3 2.3 2.51 0 -9
(Reporting by Bruce Nichols; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)