U.S. ENERGY COSTS ROSE IN FEBRUARY BY 1.9 PCT Consumer energy costs rose 1.9 pct in February following a sharp rise last month, the Labor Department said. The February increase in the overall energy costs, including petroleum, coal and natural gas, followed a 0.2 pct drop in December and a 3.0 pct rise in January, it said. Energy prices were 12.2 pct below year-ago levels. The department's Consumer Price Index showed that the cost of gasoline rose in February by 4.2 pct, after a 6.6 pct rise in January. Gasoline prices were nonetheless 18.0 pct below their levels as of February 1986. Also, the category including fuel oil, coal and bottled gas rose in February by 3.8 pct, putting it 14.9 pct under the year-ago figure. The index also showed that natural gas and electricity were unchanged last month, but down 3.5 pct from the February 1986 figure, the department said. The index has been updated o reflect 1982-84 consumption patterns; previously, the index was based on 1972-73 patterns.