The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance edged up by 250 last week to a total of 282,750 from the previous week’s upwardly revised 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 April 11 rose by 12,000 to a total of 294,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised level.

Bloomberg reports fewer than 300,000 American workers filed applications for unemployment benefits for the sixth consecutive week, pointing to labor-market strength even as hiring cooled last month. Claims rose more than its median forecast of 50 economists, which called for 280,000 claims.

No special factors impacted this week’s initial claims.