NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks fell across industries on Tuesday, erasing gains from a rally a day earlier, as investors sifted through economic reports for clues as to when the era of low interest rates may end.
Consumer goods companies and utilities fell the most. Kraft Heinz fell 4 percent and Consolidated Edison dropped 2 percent. Nine of the 10 sectors of the Standard and Poor's 500 index ended lower. Energy stocks rose as the price of crude oil rose to a seven-month high.
The Dow Jones industrial average lost 180.73 points, or 1 percent, to 17,529.98. The S&P 500 index gave up 19.45 points, or 0.9 percent, to 2,047.21. The Nasdaq composite pulled back 59.73 points, or 1.3 percent, to 4,715.73.
The Labor Department reported Tuesday that the cost of living in April climbed by the most in more than three years. A separate report said builders are breaking ground on new homes at a faster past than last year.
Investors worry reports like those could prompt the Fed to raise rates. That could hurt high-dividend stocks like utilities.