Brussels, 05/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to the results of the monthly survey published on Monday by the European Commission, the consumer confidence index rose 0.1 point between January and February 2002. It stands at 99.2 in the euro zone (compared to 99.1 one month earlier), and at 99.4 in the EU (as in January). The favourable development of this index was mainly to be seen in Italy (+0.6), the Netherlands, in Austria and in Sweden (+0.5 also for the three countries), although it fell in Germany (-0.3), Greece (-0.3), France (-0.2), Belgium and the United Kingdom (-0.1 in these two countries). Such positive developments are due to the rise in business and consumer confidence indicators. Furthermore, the business climate indicator also increased in February, to -0.86 points, compared to -1.02 points in January. This new monthly rise of 0.16 points is mainly due to an improvement in the order books, especially exports, explains the Commission. The spokesperson for Commissioner Pedro Solbes felt that this statistical data confirm the recovery scenario, for the first quarter 2002, of economic growth in Europe.