The market gave up early gains.
The U.S. Commerce Department is expected to report that retail sales were flat in December as lower gasoline prices weighed on receipts at service stations. Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline and three other categories, are expected to rise 0.4 percent after increasing 0.6 percent in November. According to analysts, Business Inventories for November are expected to remain unchanged at 0.2 percent. Separately, Labor Department issues Import and Export Prices for December. Analysts expect the import prices to extend the fall to straight sixth month at -2.9 percent.