The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 49 points, or 1.8%, to 2,713 around 2:30 p.m. EST. The Dow Jones industrial average slid 520 points, or 2%, to 25,001. The Nasdaq composite fell 92 points, or 1.3%, to 7,149. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks was down 19 points, or 1.2%, to 1,528.

The S&P 500 is down about 5.5% from its latest record high, set Jan. 26.

Investors are worried about evidence of rising inflation in the United States. Increased inflation might push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates more quickly, something that could slow down economic growth by making it more expensive for people and businesses to borrow money. Rising bond yields are also making bonds more appealing than stocks to investors.

WELLS FARGO PLUNGES: Wells Fargo dropped 8.7% to $58.47 as of about 1:30 EST. Late Friday, the Fed said it will freeze Wells Fargo’s assets at the level where they stood at the end of last year until the San Francisco bank can demonstrate improved internal controls. The bank also agreed to remove four directors from its board.

The S&P energy index .SPNY led the decliners among the 11 major S&P sectors, with a 2.03 percent fall. Exxon’s (XOM.N) 4.1 percent fall weighed the most on the Dow and was the second biggest drag on the S&P.

Oil prices neared their lowest in a month as rising U.S. output and a weaker physical market added to the pressure from a widespread decline across equities and commodities. [O/R]

A prominent Harvard economist is warning that the U.S. stock market, which on Monday extended Friday’s big drop — is set for a drop of as much as a third of its current value, an outlook that would entail the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling to approximately 16,000 from its current lofty level.