US initial jobless claims fell by 3,000 in the week ended Feb. 18 to a total of 192,000, the US Department of Labor reported today. The previous week’s level was revised upward by 1,000.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 200,000 applications for the latest week. Reuters noted the data points to a persistently tight labor market, increasing fears that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates higher than anticipated.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of claims rose by 1,500 to a level of 191,250.