In the lightest volume session of the year, U.S. stocks fell on Monday after a lowered outlook from Kimberly-Clark heightened concerns about higher commodity costs squeezing profits in coming quarters.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 26.11 points, or 0.21 percent, to end unofficially at 12,479.88. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 2.13 points, or 0.16 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,335.25. But the Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 5.72 points, or 0.20 percent, to close unofficially at 2,825.88.

(Reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Jan Paschal)

Fall Inflation