The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 1,750 last week to a total of 284,500 from the previous week’s unrevised 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 18 rose by 1,000 to a total of 295,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level.

Bloomberg reports applications for US unemployment benefits held below 300,000 for the seventh straight week, pointing to a rebound in payrolls after hiring eased last month. However, claims rose more than its median forecast of 55 economists, which called for 287,000 claims.

No special factors impacted this week’s initial claims.