The four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 11,500 to a level of 364,000 in the week ended Oct. 6, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The four-week average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week decreased by 30,000 to 339,000, the lowest level in more than four years.