U.S. stocks fell for the first time in three days after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke acknowledged that the nation may be in a recession and higher fuel prices snuffed out a rally in retailers. The S&P 500 decreased 2.65 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,367.53. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 45.12, or 0.4 percent, to 12,609.24 after gaining 391 points yesterday. The Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 1.35, or 0.1 percent, to 2,361.4.

(Bloomberg)