The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance last week fell by 7,250 to a total of 287,750 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 295,000, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Labor. This is the lowest level for this average since Feb. 4, 2006, when it was 286,500.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Oct. 4 fell by 1,000 to a total of 287,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 288,000.

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