The U.S. Commerce Department will report on March retail sales at 7:30 a.m. CDT Friday, followed by the Fed's report on March industrial production at 8:15 and a consumer sentiment index for April at 9 a.m. Traders will keep an eye on the latest weather forecasts and watch for a possible export sale announcement at 8 a.m.
Weather
A disturbance continues to move northeast out of the Gulf of Mexico, spreading showers through the Southeast on Friday. Behind it, another system is leaving the Rockies with increasing showers across the Plains and Upper Midwest. It remains very warm ahead of this system, with another day or two of good weather for fieldwork for some areas before a more active pattern starts back up.