Berlin - European economic confidence recorded its biggest fall since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, a key survey released Wednesday said as concerns set in about the economic outlook.

The European Commission said that its closely watched index gauging the economic mood in the 15-member eurozone slumped by 5.3 points to 89.5 in July to fall to its lowest level since March 2003.

The fall was the index's biggest monthly decline since October 2001, the commission said. (dpa)