They gained 53.25 points, to close at 6,609.16, giving the market its third straight rise.

The drop in sales was the first decline since the 1 percent in March, and inventories saw their 13th straight monthly rise.

Private analysts generally took a dim view of the reports, despite a 2.4 percent increase in housing permits, the second straight monthly rise.

After 11 straight rises and 6 straight records, the Dow slipped 1.35, to 3,200.13.

It was also the second straight substantial rise after five months in which factory orders declined.

The three-tenths of a percentage point increase in the jobless rate was the second straight rise of this size.

Building activity rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $422.7 billion in December, the fourth straight monthly rise.

Construction spending was expected to have risen six-tenths of a point, for its fifth straight rise.

Last summer, more than a quarter of A-levels were graded an A - the 12th straight rise.

The drop, analysts cautioned, was somewhat predictable after six straight rises.