NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Wall Street turned lower on Friday after mixed reports showed U.S. retail sales gained less than expected while consumer sentiment climbed higher.

According to the Commerce Department, retail sales rose 0.4 percent and sales excluding autos climbed 0.2 percent.

The Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment climbed to 69.6 from a reading of 67.8 in July, showing a slump in consumer spending is unlikely.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 16.80 points, or 0.16 percent, to 10,303.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 4.36 points, or 0.40 percent, to 1,079.25 and the Nasdaq was down 16.79 points, or 0.77 percent, to 2,173.48. ( yan)