BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – According to Eurostat, fuel prices for personal transportation within the European Union experienced a 31.4% increase in September 2026 compared to the previous year. This marks the most significant rise over the past three months, following annual growth rates of 16.9% in July and 23.8% in August. The data encompasses fuels and lubricants utilized in private vehicles. Eurostat released these figures on October 21 as part of the EU’s harmonized consumer price statistics.
Across 26 out of 27 EU nations, September’s annual price hikes exceeded those seen in July and August. Bulgaria led with the highest increase at 42.2%, with Estonia and Lithuania following at 40.6% and 40.2%, respectively. These three countries were the only member states where fuel prices rose by over 40%. Additionally, 12 other nations reported annual increases above 30%, with Czechia experiencing a 37.5% rise and Portugal a 30.3% increase. The widespread nature of these rises highlights the broad impact of rising costs across the bloc.
Hungary recorded the smallest annual increase at 6.9%, while Ireland’s rise was 17.7%. Sweden’s prices went up by 19.9%, and Cyprus saw a 24.6% increase, which remains below the EU average. The data demonstrates that nearly all member states’ drivers paid significantly more at the pump than they did a year prior. To alleviate the financial burden on households, some governments, including Germany, have moved to reduce fuel taxes.
September sees renewed upward movement for diesel and petrol prices
In the month-to-month comparison, fuel prices saw notable increases. EU-wide, diesel prices climbed by 5.9% from August to September, while petrol prices rose by 6.7% during the same period. August had already witnessed increases of 8.3% for diesel and 3.3% for petrol compared to July. These figures suggest a consistent upward pressure on transportation fuel costs through late summer into autumn.
Between August and September, 26 EU nations experienced rising diesel prices. The highest monthly increase was recorded in Sweden at 12.8%, with Latvia at 10.3% and Poland at 9.7%. Conversely, the smallest increases occurred in Spain at 2.4%, Croatia at 2.5%, and Romania at 3.0%. The variation among countries indicates significant differences, largely driven by national taxes and duties that constitute a major portion of the final pump price in most EU states.
Sweden reports the most substantial monthly increase for petrol
Petrol prices increased in 26 member states from August to September, with Sweden experiencing the largest rise at 13.8%. Poland followed with 9.7%, and Estonia at 9.5%. The smallest increases were seen in Cyprus at 3.8%, Romania at 4.2%, and Slovenia at 4.6%. Despite Sweden’s notable monthly rises for both diesel and petrol, its annual increases remain comparatively modest. Meanwhile, Cyprus maintained below-average annual growth rates within the EU.
The escalation in energy costs has contributed to rising consumer prices across Europe this year. Euro area inflation reached 3.3% in August, primarily driven by energy prices. Last week, the Bank of Italy projected that oil prices would average $114 a barrel during the final quarter of 2026. Eurostat will provide additional price data in the upcoming weeks. Fuel expenses continue to be a crucial factor affecting household budgets and the operations of transport companies.