U.S. energy firms this week cut oil and natural gas rigs for a 14th week in a row to the lowest level since at least 1940, data showed on Thursday, as energy firms continue to slash spending as part of the deepest energy price rout in a generation. Oil rigs alone fell 15 to 372, the lowest level since November 2009, oil services company Baker Hughes Inc said in its closely followed report. Looking forward however, analysts forecast the rig count will bottom in a couple months before recovering later this year when they expect energy prices to rise. Drillers cut 12 oil and gas rigs in the week to March 24, bringing the total rig count down to 464, the report said. That compares with 1,048 oil and gas rigs operating in the same week a year ago.