Stocks Shoot Lower as Inflation Hits 40-Year Peak

Stocks slipped on Wednesday after June inflation data hit its highest level since 1981, adding to growing fears that the Federal Reserve will get more aggressive in its fight to tame rising prices.

The Dow Jones Industrials sank 208.54 points to 30,772.79.

The S&P 500 lost 17.02 points to 3,801.78.

The NASDAQ Composite dropped 17.15 points to 11,227.53.

Consumer discretionary rose 0.9%, boosted by gains from Domino’s Pizza, Bath & Body Works and Tesla, while Boeing, Walgreens and UnitedHealth slid 2% each, dragging the Dow into negative territory.

Battered tech shares Amazon, Netflix and Tesla staged a comeback on Wednesday, rising more than 1% each despite mounting growth concerns.

The move briefly brought the tech-heavy NASDAQ into positive territory. Twitter’s stock rose 8% as the social media company sued Elon Musk.

Along with the inflation report, investors continued to monitor second-quarter earnings for clues into the health of U.S. companies. Delta Air Lines shares dropped 6.3% after posting mixed results.

Amid the news, United backtracked 1% and American Airlines dipped about 3%. Struggling cruise stocks Royal Caribbean and Carnival each fell more than 1%.

The consumer price index rose 9.1% on a year-over-year basis in June, coming in even higher than May’s 8.6% reading, which was the biggest increase since 1981. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones’ had anticipated an 8.8% print.

Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, came in at 5.9% and above the 5.7% estimate.

Treasury prices gained ground, lowering yields to 2.91% from Tuesday’s 2.97%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Oil prices nosed 11 cents to $95.95 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices gained 11 cents to $1,731.20 U.S. an ounce.