WASHINGTON — US jobless claims fell by 44,000 to 434,000 in the week ended May 7, partly reversing a large spike earlier in April, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected applications for jobless benefits to decline to seasonally adjusted 428,000.

The average of new claims over the past four weeks rose by 4,500 to 436,750, the highest level since November. The four-week average was considered more accurate a gauge of employment trends because it lessens week-to-week volatility in the data.

Meanwhile, the number of workers who continue to receive state compensation increased by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.76 million in the week of April 30.

Altogether, 7.98 million people received some kind of state or federal benefit in the week ended April 23, down 31,247 from the prior week. It was the first time in several years the number has fallen below eight million.

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