NEW YORK — Most U.S. stocks fell Wednesday after a report showed inflation is unexpectedly worsening for Americans . The S&P 500 dropped 0.3%, though it had been on track for a much worse loss of 1.1% at the start of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 225 points, or 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite edged higher by less than 0.1%.

U.S. stocks rallied to the brink of a record after more companies reported fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 rose 1% Thursday. It got within less than 0.1% of its all-time high as Wall Street yawned at the latest announcement on tariffs by President Donald Trump,