Stocks finished largely flat today as investors returned from the Christmas holiday to news of weaker-than-expected retail sales. A jump in oil prices also raised concerns among investors.

The International Council of Shopping Centers said its index of retail chain store sales rose 2.8% last week, rounding out a sluggish December performance that puts merchants on track for a smaller sales gain than the trade group originally expected. Still, there is some hope sales will rebound as shoppers start spending with holiday gift cards.

Other reports released alongside Christmas proved disappointing. Target Corp. indicated its sales may have fallen in December, while MasterCard Inc. said holiday spending — including credit, cash, and checks — climbed a modest 3.6% between Thanksgiving and Christmas, weighed by a slowdown in sales of women’s apparel. That compares with a rise of 6.6% over the same period last year. The 2007 holiday figure is at the low end of its 3.5% to 4.5% range. Excluding gasoline and auto sales, that figure was 2.4%.

The news could raise concerns about the strength of consumer spending and, in turn, the economy. However, it has been widely expected that holiday sales would be slower than in years past.

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 2.36, or 0.02%, to 13,551.69.

Advancing and declining issues were just about even on the New York Stock Exchange.

Broader stock indicators also showed gains. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 1.21, or 0.08%, to 1,497.65, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 10.91, or 0.40%, to 2,724.41.