US initial jobless claims fell by 8,000 in the week ended Feb. 10 to a total of 212,000, the US Department of Labor reported today. The previous week’s level was revised upward by 2,000.

MarketWatch reported the total was below expectations with business not hiring as much as they did last year but not cutting jobs either.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of claims rose by 5,750 to a level of 218,500. The previous week’s average was revised upward by 500.