U.S. stock-index futures signaled a lower open on Friday, tracking sharp declines in global markets as U.S. crude crashed below $60 and investors awaited consumer sentiment data.
Stock futures didn't react to an economic report on Friday that had producer prices falling 0.2 percent in November versus expectations of a 0.1 percent drop.
West Texas Intermediate futures for January closed at $59.95 per barrel on Thursday, the first sub-$60 settle since July 2009, with prices remaining under pressure ahead of the U.S. stock market open. The dip below $60 opens the door to the $50-per-barrel level, according to analysts.
Read MoreOil pressure could sock it to stocks
The International Energy Agency (IEA) cut its forecasts for global oil demand growth in 2015 on Friday, and warned that weak demand and oversupply in oil markets raise the risk of global social instability and the potential for financial defaults.
Read MoreIEAwarns on social unrest as oil plummets
The data focus on Friday will be the preliminary reading of December's University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey, which is likely to receive some support from the slide in gas prices at the pump and strong spending in November.
The index, released at 09.55 a.m. ET is on track to hit its highest level since mid-2007 following five consecutive monthly rises.
European stock markets were lower in morning trade on Friday, with all major bourses off over 1 percent as commodity prices continued to fall and traders re-evaluated figures from the European Central Bank (ECB).
No major earnings are expected on Friday.