The four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 2,250 to a level of 408,000 in the week ended Dec. 1, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Labor. The previous week’s reported average was revised upward to 405,750.

The four-week average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week were 370,000, down 25,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 395,000.