US initial jobless claims fell by 13,000 in the week ended Sept. 2 to a total of 216,000 — their lowest level since February — the US Department of Labor reported Sept. 7. The previous week’s level was revised upward by 1,000.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new claims would rise to 234,000 in the latest week.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of initial claims fell by 8,500 to a level of 229,250. The previous week’s average was revised upward by 250.