The U.S. four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance edged up by 500 in the week ended July 3 to 315,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 314,500, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week rose by 2,000 to a total of 315,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 313,000.

The Wall Street Journal reports the level remains consistent with continued recovery in the labor market.