Eurozone consumer confidence rose in February, figures released on Wednesday showed.

The European Commission said a flash estimate that eurozone consumer morale improved slightly to -23.6, up from -23.9 in January.

But the improvement was not as great as that forecast by a Reuters poll of 25 economists, who had predicted a rise in February to -23.1.

Consumer spending accounts for more than half of eurozone economic output, but with the effects of the debt crisis cutting disposable income, households have been in no position to contribute much to economic recovery.

In the wider 27-member European Union, consumer sentiment also improved marginally, rising to -21.6 from -21.9 a month before.