NEW YORK (March 15, 2013)--The Dow dropped 25 points to close at 14,514 Thursday, which ended its longest streak in more than 15 years.

The Dow had chalked up a 10-day winning streak through Thursday, its longest since November 1996.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell two points to end at 1,560.

The Nasdaq composite index dropped nine points to close at 3,249.

Trading was tentative because investors fear that rising inflation will cause the Federal Reserve to retreat from policies aimed at boosting markets.

The government said that consumer prices increased in February at the fastest pace in more than three years.

Declining stocks outpaced advancing ones on the New York Stock Exchange where volume was above average at 4.9 billion shares.