The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance last week rose by 4,750 to a total of 299,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised average of 294,250, 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 Nov. 29 fell by 17,000 to a total of 297,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 314,000.

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