The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 1,250 last week to a total of 283,750 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 25 fell by 34,000 to a total of 262,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since April 15, 2000 when it was 259,000.

Bloomberg reports the decline in total initial claims shows that employers view the first-quarter slowdown in the economy is probably temporary. Claims fell more than its median forecast of 50 economists, which called for 290,000 claims.

No special factors impacted this week’s initial claims.