The Labor Department reported the number of Americans applying for first-time unemployment benefits fell by 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 376,000 for the week ended Feb. 2.

Economists had forecast claims of 386,000 claims for the Feb. 2 week.

The four-week moving average fell to 380,500, its lowest level since the week ended Aug. 18 of 2001.

The number of workers remaining on jobless benefits for the week ended Jan. 26 fell to 3.427 million from 3.477 million, the Labor Department said.