08:18 AM EDT, 08/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were in a holding pattern premarket Friday, a day after a much stronger-than-expected retail sales data and a decline in jobless claims fueled gains for major equity indices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 0.1%, S&P 500 futures declined 0.2%, while Nasdaq futures flatlined.

Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 2.7% at $78.89 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 3% lower at $75.84 per barrel.

US housing starts, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, are expected to slow to a 1.34 million annual rate in July from June's 1.353 million, while permits are seen slowing to 1.43 million, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Consumer sentiment, due at 10 am ET, is expected to edge higher to 66.7 in August from July's 66.4.