U.S. stocks tumbled on Wednesday after data showing that new home sales fell unexpectedly last month increased concerns about the pace of the economic recovery.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 119.48 points, or 1.21 percent, to close unofficially at 9,762.69. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 20.78 points, or 1.95 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,042.63. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> lost 56.48 points, or 2.67 percent, to end unofficially at 2,059.61.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Jan Paschal)