The four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance in the U.S. fell by 4,500 to a level of 341,250 in the week ended July 27, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week fell to 326,000, down 19,000 from the previous week’s revised number of 345,000.