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Google's share of U.S. core search queries rose to more than 59 percent in February, according to new comScore Media Metrix data cited today in a Citigroup analyst's report. Yahoo's market share slipped to 21.6 percent, while Microsoft dipped slightly, to 9.6 percent.

ComScore isn't issuing the numbers publicly yet, but its statistics were cited by Citigroup's Mark Mahaney in a note to clients this morning. Mahaney reported that overall growth in core search queries was slower in February, growing 15 percent year-over-year vs. 23 percent year-over-year growth in January. People in the industry are watching these numbers even more closely than usual, in light of Microsoft's bid to acquire Yahoo, and Yahoo's latest financial forecasts.

Here's how the individual companies stacked up:

Google: January, 58.5 percent; February, 59.2 percent.
Yahoo: January, 22.2 percent; February, 21.6 percent.
Microsoft: January, 9.8 percent; February, 9.6 percent.
Ask Network: January, 4.5 percent; February, 4.6 percent.