The 30-stock index backtracked 314.35 points to break for lunch Thursday at 34,275.42.
The S&P 500 gave back 11.35 points to 4,068.76.
The NASDAQ dipped 7.72 points to 11,460.28.
Costco shares dropped 6% after posting a 5.7% November sales increase, a slowing from a 7.7% increase in October and a poor sign with retailers in their key holiday season. Costco also reported a 10.1% decline in e-commerce sales during the period. Shares of Walmart and Target were lower Thursday, following Costco
Shares of Salesforce tumbled 9%, helping to drag down the Dow, after the software company said its co-CEO would be stepping down soon.
The moves departed from earlier boosts that followed the release of the Core Personal Consumption Expenditures Index, a closely watched gauge of spending. October data showed the index rose 0.2%, below the consensus estimate of 0.3% collected from economists by Dow Jones.
Investors will be watching Friday for data on the unemployment rate and non-farm payrolls.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained ground, lowering yields to 3.57% from Tuesday’s 3.64%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices increased $1.63 to $82.18 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices popped $56.10 to $1,816.00 U.S. an ounce.