Wall Street Declines Amid Investor Caution and Strong Retail Sales Data U.S. stock markets opened lower on Tuesday as investors exercised caution ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve decision on interest rates. The decline came in response to strong retail sales data, indicating sustained consumer demand. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 61 points, or 0.14%, to 43,656.47.
The S&P 500 fell 0.35% to 4,052.55, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.39% to 12,095.62.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, retail sales rose 0.7% in November, surpassing expectations of 0.5%. This follows a 0.5% increase recorded in October. The robust retail data underscores resilient consumer spending, which may influence the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision as it seeks to strike a balance between supporting economic growth and curbing inflation.
