NEW YORK, April 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve said in its latest Beige Book report that the U.S. economy grew slightly faster in the early spring and businesses added more workers, but there was little progress in lowering inflation.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 45.66 points, or 0.12 percent, to 37,753.31. The S&P 500 sank 29.20 points, or 0.58 percent, to 5,022.21. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 181.88 points, or 1.15 percent, to 15,683.37.