U.S. stocks opened lower on Friday after retail sales data suggested momentum in consumer spending remained limp, heightening concerns about the fragile economic recovery.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> lost 15.82 points, or 0.15 percent, to 10,304.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 <.SPX> fell 2.47 points, or 0.23 percent, to 1,081.14. The Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> dropped 5.90 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,184.37.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)