The four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 1,500 to a level of 368,000 in the week ended Oct. 20, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Labor. The previous week’s reported average was revised upward to 366,500.

The four-week average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week were 369,000, down 23,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 392,000.