US STOCKS-Futures lower as China manufacturing still weak

* Chinese manufacturing shrinks in September

* US personal income, spending, UMich consumer data on tap

* Futures off: Dow 119 pts, S&P 500 12.3 pts, Nasdaq 17.25

* For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US] (Adds quote, updates prices)

By Chuck Mikolajczak

NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday after data showing a continued contraction in China stirred fears the global economy was slowing.

China's manufacturing sector eased for a third consecutive month in September, suggesting that the world's second-largest economy is not immune to global headwinds, while factory inflation quickened. For details, see [ID:nL3E7KU097]

Data later in the morning in the United States will give a picture of consumer spending and income last month, as well as September consumer confidence and Midwest manufacturing.

The Commerce Department will release personal income and consumption data for August at 8:30 a.m. (1230 GMT). Economists in a Reuters survey expect a rise of 0.1 percent in income and a 0.2 percent increase in spending. In July, income rose 0.3 percent and spending rose 0.8 percent, with a 1.0 percent rate in the preliminary (second) estimate.

The Institute of Supply Management-Chicago's September index of manufacturing activity is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. (1345 GMT) and is expected to show a drop to 55.5 from August's 56.5.

"It's a continuation of a horrible quarter, a horrible month," said said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital in New York.

"What we are looking at here is a market that will focus on the economic data here in the States -- the Chicago PMI and spending probably could be the market drivers of the day. Unless the economic data falls off a cliff, then we could see a repeat of yesterday, in and out of the plus-and-minus column."

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers final September consumer sentiment index is expected at 9:55 a.m. (1355 GMT). Economists in a Reuters survey expect a reading of 57.8, flat with the early September figure.

The benchmark S&P 500 index has dropped more than 12 percent this quarter and is on track for its worst quarterly performance since 2008 as a euro zone debt crisis and weakening economic data fuel concerns of a global slowdown.

Market volatility is expected to remain high as traders react to European headlines and attempt to gauge the commitment of governments and institutions as they work to prevent a Greek default.

S&P 500 futures fell 12.3 points and were below fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration of the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures lost 119 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 17.25 points.

McGraw-Hill Companies Inc is in advanced talks to merge its S&P Indexes business with CME Group Inc's Dow Jones Indexes, a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday. [ID:nS1E78S1XK]

Industrial conglomerate Ingersoll Rand Plc cut its third-quarter and full-year earnings forecast to below market estimates, pointing to lower-than-expected demand at its key North American residential and commercial security markets. [ID:nL3E7KU1UB]

European shares extended losses and were on track to record their worst quarterly performance since late 2008 as fears mounted about a global economic slowdown. [.EU]

Asian equities also dropped, extending the worst monthly performance since the most volatile days of the global financial crisis in October 2008. Chinese shares racked up sharp losses as investors worried about a property market correction. [ID:nL5E7KU0BV]

U.S. stocks mostly rose in a volatile session on Thursday as stronger-than-expected economic data and German approval of a beefed-up euro-zone crisis fund relieved two of the worst fears hanging over the market. (Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)