Positive U.S. economic data fuels further fall on Wall Street, Dow Jones drop 173 points

NEW YORK, New York - Positive U.S. economic data on Thursday fueled fears of increasing Federal Reserve aggression on interest rates, causing stock markets to continue feeling the heat.

U.S. retail sales jumped in August as auto sales rose and restaurants were swarmed.

The U.S. Labor Department reported initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell for the week ended Sept. 10 to the lowest level since