The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to 256,750 last week, down 5,750 from the previous week’s revised average, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Department of Labor. The previous week’s average was revised down by 500.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Dec. 31 fell to 235,000, down 28,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised down by 2,000.

This marks 96 consecutive weeks of initial claims below 300,000, the longest streak since 1970.

No special factors affected this week’s initial claims.

Bloomberg reports filings for US unemployment benefits declined to the lowest level in eight weeks, showing volatility typical around the holiday period. Initial claims fell more than the median forecast in its survey of economists, which called for initial claims to decline to 260,000.