The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance last week fell by 6,500 to a total of 283,250 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 289,750, 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 Feb. 14 fell by 21,000 to a total of 283,000 from the previous week’s unrevised figure of 304,000.

Bloomberg reports claims dropped more than its median forecast of 50 economists, which called for 290,000 claims.

No special factors impacted this week’s initial claims, according to the Department of Labor.