The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to 224,500 last week, down 10,000 from the previous week’s unrevised average, the US Department of Labor reported.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Feb. 3 fell to 221,000, down 9,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level.

Claims-taking procedures in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands have still not returned to normal.

MarketWatch reported initial claims fell more than anticipated by its survey of economists, who forecast a 235,000 reading, and the more stable monthly average of claims declined to its lowest level since March 1973.