The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose to 257,750 last week, up 5,250 from the previous week’s unrevised average, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Department of Labor.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Dec. 10 fell to 254,000, down 4,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level.

This marks 93 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 to the lowest level in three weeks. Initial claims fell more than the median forecast in its survey of economists, which called for initial claims to decline to 255,000. Bloomberg said companies are hesitant to dismiss workers as tight labor conditions and steady economic growth place a premium on skilled and experienced employees.