U.S. Stocks Open Slightly Lower After Weak Retail Sales

U.S. stocks opened slightly lower Friday as investors grappled with weaker-than-expected retail sales data and an unexpected drop in wholesale prices. The main indexes retreated from record levels set a day earlier, when all three main benchmarks closed at all-time highs. The main indexes were on track to finish the week roughly where they started. The S&P 500 index opened 4 points, or 0.2%, lower at 2,181. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 37 points, or 0.2%, to 18,576. Meanwhile the Nasdaq Composite Index began the session off 12 points, or 0.2%, at 5,215.