US Stocks - Futures Rise as Data on Consumer Eyed

U.S. stock market futures rose on Friday as investors awaited data that could provide a look at the health of the consumer, including reports on retail sales and consumer sentiment.

* The main focus will be the Commerce Department release of November retail sales at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT). Economists in a Reuters survey expect an 0.7 percent rise, compared with a 1.4 percent increase in October. Excluding automobiles, sales are seen up 0.4 percent, compared with an 0.2 percent increase in the month before.

* The Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers December consumer sentiment index will be out at 9:55 a.m. EST (1455 GMT). Wall Street looks for a preliminary December reading of 68.5, compared with 67.4 in the final November report.

* Investors are eager to see signs of life from the consumer as spending has stayed anemic with shoppers worrying about the high unemployment rate. Analysts say it will be hard for the economy to mount a sustainable recovery without consumer participation. Read More...