WALL Street stocks fell again yesterday as interest rates rose further in the bond market after some signs of US economic strength stirred lingering inflation worries.

Bonds fell amid indications of strength in September's retail sales and news that first-time claims for jobless benefits fell by 22,000 last week to 319,000, the lowest level in five weeks.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by nearly a 7-to-6 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,093 up, 1,265 down and 884 unchanged.

NYSE volume totalled 394.95 million shares, against 405.96 million in the previous session.

The Standard and Poor's 500-stock index fell 2.21 to 694.53, and the NYSE's composite index fell 1.00 to 370.35.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 1.01 to 1,236.97, and the American Stock Exchange's market value index fell 0.11 to 579.99.