Stocks slid on Wednesday fueled by escalating Greek debt woes, while troubling U.S. data pointed to further losses ahead.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 178.84 points, or 1.48 percent, to end unofficially at 11,897.27. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> lost 22.45 points, or 1.74 percent, to end unofficially at 1,265.42. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> tumbled 47.26 points, or 1.76 percent, to close unofficially at 2,631.46.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Jan Paschal)