U.S. stocks ended lower on March 13, 2026, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.26% to 46,558.47, the S&P 500 dropping 0.61% to 6,632.19, and the Nasdaq declining 0.93% to 22,105.36.
Economic data showed U.S. GDP growth was revised down to just 0.7% for the fourth quarter, sharply lower than the previous estimate of 1.4% and well below the consensus forecast of 1.5%. January inflation data met expectations, with the PCE index rising 0.3% monthly while core PCE increased 0.4%.
Oil prices continued surging on Friday, with West Texas Intermediate crude settling up 3.11% at $98.71 per barrel as fears of 1970s-style stagflation were stoked by the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran disrupting energy markets. Defense officials attempted to calm concerns, with the U.S. secretary of defense telling media not to worry about Iran's threats to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.
Nvidia closed at $180.25, down 1.58% as investors positioned ahead of the company's GTC 2026 conference starting March 16. Consumer sentiment fell to 55.5 in March from February's reading as interviews completed after military action in Iran completely erased initial gains in sentiment.
The S&P 500 posted its first three-week losing streak in about a year, scoring a new low for 2026 on Friday. Rising energy costs and stagflation concerns forced markets to reprice 2026 rate expectations.
