The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose to 211,750 last week, up 2,000 from the previous week’s average, the US Department of Labor reported. The previous week’s average was revised up by 250.

The four-week moving average smooths the volatility of the week-to-week numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Oct. 13 fell to 210,000, down 5,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised upward by 1,000.