Wall Street futures dip ahead of open

NEW YORK -- U.S. stock futures are little slightly lower ahead of more data on consumer spending and jobs, two of the market's biggest concerns.

Major retailers will report October sales and the Labor Department will issue its weekly report on the number of workers filing for unemployment benefits for the first time.

Yesterday, the Federal Reserve said housing activity has picked up and consumer spending appears to be growing, albeit slowly. But investors are still nervous that rising unemployment will keep a lid on spending for a prolonged period of time, leading to slower economic growth.

The Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 7 at 9,778. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are down 1 at 1,045, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 3 at 1,683.75.

-- The Associated Press