A string of reminders that the US economy is still struggling, as well as disappointing earnings at Exxon Mobil upset investors today and pushed stocks sharply lower.

Investors showed a growing lack of faith in corporate America’s accounting practices today, sending the Dow Jones industrials tumbling nearly 250 points on worries that more companies might be vulnerable to bookkeeping scandals.

A weaker-than-expected consumer confidence report gave Wall Street another reason to sell today, intensifying a pullback that began with investors cashing in recent profits.