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Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Sell-off on Wall Street: Why it is happening and what it says about the economy

Los Angeles Times
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80% Informative

Stocks had been dropping at worrisome rates for several days , but on Monday things went from concerning to panicky.

The Nasdaq composite was, for a moment on Monday , down more than 10% since the middle of last week .

The sudden pullback has jolted investors and raised questions about the underlying health of the economy.

Consumer spending, which drives the U.S. economy, has held up very well in recent years .

But there are indications from companies such as McDonald's and Starbucks that consumers are becoming more cautious.

Higher-income households account for a disproportionately big share of spending.

A sharp drop in stocks would have the reverse impact, a so-called negative wealth effect.