The index tumbled from 98.8 in October, its highest level in five years, to 97.8.

From a high of 6,570.83, the index tumbled by year's end to 5,512.39.

Other major indexes also tumbled because of interest-rate and inflation fears.

Its Latin American index, however, has tumbled a substantial 37.94 percent over the same period.

The Dow plunged 139.67 points, or 1.93 percent, to 7,085.65, and other major indexes also tumbled.

And the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index tumbled 8.36 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,332.53.

The index tumbled 83.66 points, or 3.5 percent, to 2,321.89, down 51.73 for the week.

By the close of trading, the index had tumbled 339.06 points, to 2,806.57 points.

The department's index of lagging indicators tumbled nine-tenths of 1 percent in May, its fourth straight decline.

After the Middle East crisis, the index tumbled to a record low of 2,485.25 in trading on Oct. 12, before rising again.