WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits fell by 9,000 in the week ending Feb. 16, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday.

There were 349,000 initial claims during the week.

But, the four-week average, triggered by jumps in January, rose to 360,500, up by 10,750 and is at the highest level since 2005 when jobless claims rose in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The previous week's four-week average was 349,750, the report said.

The spike came in the week ending Jan. 26, when 378,000 new claims filed were filed.