Stock index futures were lower on Friday as investors awaited a round of data, including consumer sentiment, that will provide a picture on the strength the economic recovery.

A weak euro and strong gold prices indicated that investors were worried that euro-zone austerity measures could stifle economic growth.

Also, the initial optimism over moves this week to keep Greece's debt crisis from spreading appeared to be ebbing on fears that the efforts won't be enough.

Data on tap includes April retail sales at 8:30 a.m. EDT and May preliminary consumer sentiment at 9:55 a.m. EDT. Retail sales are expected to rise 0.2 percent, compared with a gain of 1.9 percent the month before, while the consumer sentiment reading is expected at 73.5, compared with 72.2 in the previous month, according to a Reuters poll of economists.

Two U.S. department store operators that serve different markets -- Kohl's Corp and Nordstrom Inc --reported double-digit profit growth on Thursday, but their full-year forecasts indicated concerns about consumer spending.

S&P 500 futures fell 7.6 points and were below fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures lost 67 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures shed 11.25 points.

Chipmakers will also be in focus after Nvidia Corp's forecast sales below Wall Street's target, sending the stock down more than 2 percent after the closing bell.

Other economic data will include April industrial production at 9:15 a.m. EDT and March business inventories at 10 a.m. EDT. Production is expected to rise 0.6 percent from 0.1 percent the month before, and business inventories are forecast to rise 0.4 percent, compared with 0.5 percent.

Energy shares could come under pressure as oil futures fell 1.8 percent to just above $73 a barrel amid swollen crude inventories and jitters about the European debt crisis.

Stocks fell on Thursday after downbeat comments about the economy from Cisco Systems Inc , the big maker of computer routers and switches, and Kohl's.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Retail sales