Stocks stayed mostly flat Wednesday after the release of mixed economic reports and more merger news. In economic news the ICSC-Goldman Store Sales index increased 2.7% compared to the weak year-on-year rate of 1.8%. Housing starts fell 8.5% in January. The northeast and midwest regions' housing starts fell at a monthly rate of 35.3% and 50% respectively. The producer price index rose 0.2% and food inflation increased 0.7% in January. The index rebounded after it fell 0.3% in December. The Dow (INDEXDJX:.DJI) fell 12 points to 14023.18 and the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) declined 0.37% to 1525. The Nasdaq (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) ...