A dismal report on retail spending in the U.S. and signs of slowing global growth drove the stock market lower for a fourth day in a row. Investors fled to the perceived safety of government bonds, sending yields plunging.

On Wednesday:

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 186.59 points, or 1.1 percent, to 17,427.09.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 11.76 points, 0.6 percent, to 2,011.27

The Nasdaq composite fell 22.18 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,639.32.

For the week:

The Dow is down 310.28 points, or 1.8 percent.

The S&P 500 is down 33.54 points, or 1.6 percent.

The Nasdaq is down 64.74 points, or 1.4 percent.

For the year:

The Dow is down 395.98 points, or 2.2 percent.

The S&P 500 is down 47.63 points, or 2.3 percent.

The Nasdaq is down 96.73 points, or 2 percent.