08:03 AM EDT, 05/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were edging higher pre-bell Friday as traders awaited the release of a string of economic data, including a report on the country's housing market.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.4%, S&P 500 futures increased 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.3% higher.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.3% at $64.77 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.4% higher at $61.84 per barrel.

US housing starts, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, are expected to rise to 1.36 million for April from 1.324 million in the preceding month, while permits are seen dropping to 1.45 million from 1.482 million in March. Import prices and export prices are seen declining by 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Forecasters see the Consumer Sentiment Index, due at 10 am ET, coming in at 53.1 in May versus 52.2 previously.