The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 3,250 last week to a total of 273,750 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 June 20 rose by 3,000 to a total of 271,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised level.

No special factors affected this week’s initial claims.

Bloomberg reports claims rose less than its median forecast of 48 economists, which called for 273,000 claims, and the low level of firings underscores employer optimism about sales prospects as the economy regains ground after a first-quarter setback.

MarketWatch reports initial jobless claims have been under the key 300,000 level for 16 straight weeks — the longest stretch since 2000-2001 — and the US labor market is still showing plenty of vigor, the latest look at layoffs shows.