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A day after the U.S. government outlined a plan to invest $250 billion in the country's banks U.S. stocks stumbled in early Wednesday as bleak retail sales numbers took center stage. Retail stores saw a 1.2% decline last month--the biggest pullback in more than three years as consumers, fearing a recession, kept a tight grip on spending. The headline number, as well as sales excluding autos, was far worse than economists expected. Some said the report pointed to a strong chance of negative GDP growth in the third quarter and possibly another interest rate cut up to 50 basis points in the next few months. Added to the ugly retail sales report--a regional manufacturing gauge from New York state hit its lowest level since its inception in 2001. Both overshadowed a dip in wholsale inflation for September as well as a strong earnings report from Coca-Cola. Also turning in quarterly numbers, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo. The two posted better than expected earnings despite higher credit losses. Meantime Delta's third quarter loss was wider than forecast in the face of record high oil costs over the summer. Executives said looking ahead that the recent slide in oil prices could save Delta money but that the outlook for next year is still murky. Jeanne Yurman reports from New York.