NEW YORK — Investors are finding out what everybody else already knew: The consumer isn't going to spend the economy into recovery.

Major U.S. stock indexes tumbled by the biggest amount in six weeks yesterday as investors grew worried that they have been too quick to bet on an economic rebound during the market's five-month rally. Overseas markets and commodities plunged, and demand for safe-haven investments sent the dollar and Treasury prices shooting higher.

Joe Saluzzi, co-head of equity trading at Themis Trading LLC, said the selling was warranted. "The economics obviously don't support where we've been," he said.