The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 750 last week to a total of 271,750 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 more than a month.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Sept. 19 rose by 3,000 to a total of 267,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level.

No special factors affected this week’s initial claims.

Bloomberg reports claims rose less than the median forecast in its survey economists, which projected claims would rise to 272,000. Claims are hovering near historically low levels as employers retain workers to cater to sales growth, according to Bloomberg.

“We’re not seeing a whole lot of layoffs,” said Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James Financial Inc. in St. Petersburg, Fla. “Claims have settled at a pretty low level. The labor market is definitely improving.”