The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 1,000 last week to a total of 270,750 from the previous week’s unrevised average, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Department of Labor. This is the lowest level in almost two months and the total number of people receiving benefits was the smallest in 15 years, according to Bloomberg.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Sept. 26 rose by 10,000 to a total of 277,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level.

No special factors affected this week’s initial claims.

Claims rose more than the median forecast in Bloomberg’s survey of 48 economists, which projected claims would rise to 271,000.