U.S. stocks opened lower Friday as U.S. consumer spending fell in April while income remained flat.

Personal income decreased 5.6 billion U.S. dollars, or less than 0.1 percent, in April, while personal consumption expenditures decreased 20.5 billion dollars, or 0.2 percent.

As consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the U.S. economic activity, a soft spending in April will affect the U.S. gross domestic product in the second quarter.

Later in the day, the University of Michigan will release its final reading of U.S. consumer sentiment survey for May. Consumer confidence surged to a six-year high of 83.7 in May, according to a preliminary reading of the survey.

The major stock indices are on track for solid gains in May to reverse the "sell in May" pattern seen over the past three years, as the market staged a dramatic bullish run since the beginning of 2013.

Overseas, eurozone unemployment rate edged up to a new high of 12.2 percent in April from 12.1 percent in March, EU's statistical office Eurostat said on Thursday. Among the member states, Greece and Spain recorded the highest unemployment rates of 27.0 percent and 26.8 percent, respectively.

Investors are eyeing the U.S. Labor Department's employment situation survey for May scheduled for next week. U.S. unemployment rate edged down to 7.5 percent in April from 7.6 percent in March.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 51.31 points, or 0.33 percent, to 15,273.22 points. The S&P 500 was down 5.32 points, or 0.32 percent, to 1,649.09 points. The Nasdaq Composite Index sank 11.06 points, or 0.32 percent, to 3,480.24 points. Endi

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