Stocks fall on economic reports

Wall Street retreated sharply Thursday, slicing nearly 150 points off the Dow Jones industrial average after weak sales at many of the nation’s major retailers heightened concerns about consumer spending.

The day’s economic news, which also included a disquieting trade deficit figure, appeared to give investors the rationale they were looking for to cash in some of the market’s recent gains. Analysts have been saying the surging stock market, which had pushed the Dow up more than 1,000 points since the beginning of March, was due for a pullback.

Companies including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., J.C. Penney Co. and Federated Department Stores Inc. said business fell in April, hurt by rising gasoline prices. Though many retail stocks had respectable gains Thursday, the reports raised worries that retail sales data from the Commerce Department Friday will also disappoint, and suggest that the economy is slower than previously thought.

The downturn in stocks followed a rise Wednesday that pushed the Dow to its 21st record close of the year, after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and reiterated that while the economy has slowed, inflation remains the central bank’s primary concern. Thursday’s sluggish retail sales and widening trade gap raised concerns that, while a rate cut may be necessary to boost the flagging economy, the central bank will be loathe to make one because of inflation.

“What the Federal Reserve said yesterday is that their principal focus is on inflation, and what retail sales said today is that their focus should be on the economy,” said Hugh Johnson, chairman and chief investment officer of Johnson Illington Advisors. “Things are not good out there in economy land.”

The Dow fell 147.74, or 1.11 percent, to 13,215.13, giving back five sessions’ worth of gains. It was the biggest point drop in the blue-chip index since a 242-point plunge on March 13.

Broader stock indicators also declined. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 21.11, or 1.40 percent, to 1,491.47, falling back below the 1,500 mark that it surpassed last week for the first time since September 2000.

The Nasdaq composite index dipped 42.60, or 1.65 percent, to 2,533.74.

Bonds rose after the weak economic data, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note falling to 4.65 percent from 4.67 percent late Wednesday.

Today will be another data-focused day that could help decide whether Wall Street resumes its advance or embarks on a larger correction. The Labor Department will release its Producer Price Index, a gauge of inflation at the wholesale level that is expected to be boosted by high energy costs.

Crude oil prices rebounded Thursday from a decline a day earlier, rising 26 cents to $61.81 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices fell.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by more than 3 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 1.54 billion shares, down from 1.56 billion Wednesday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 16.14, or 1.93 percent, to 818.63, retreating from Wednesday’s record close.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average fell 0.06 percent. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.39 percent, Germany’s DAX index lost 0.81 percent, and France’s CAC-40 declined 0.64 percent.