Washington ? Wary about customers, businesses are likely to continue showing caution when it comes to building up stocks of goods, economists say.

A report Monday from the Commerce Department highlighted one of the big challenges facing businesses during these muddled economic times: trying to gauge consumers’ demand for their products.

Business’ stockpiles of unsold goods rose by 0.6 percent in February as sales tumbled by 1 percent, the biggest decline since November 2001. The appetite of consumers and businesses to spend was chilled by prewar jitters and harsh winter weather, economists said.

“February was a horrible month,” said Clifford Waldman, economist with Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, a research group.

In January, however, businesses boosted inventories by 0.3 percent, and sales jumped by 1.3 percent.