BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – According to Eurostat, fuel prices for private transportation in the European Union experienced a 31.4% increase in September 2026 compared to the same month the previous year. This marked the most significant rise over the past three months, with July and August showing annual growth of 16.9% and 23.8%, respectively. The data covers fuels and lubricants used in personal vehicles and was published by Eurostat on October 21. The index is part of the EU’s harmonised consumer price statistics.
In September, 26 out of 27 EU nations reported annual price increases that exceeded those seen in July and August. Bulgaria saw the largest jump at 42.2%. Estonia followed with 40.6%, and Lithuania with 40.2%. These three countries were the only ones where prices rose by more than 40%. An additional 12 countries reported annual increases above 30%, with Czechia at 37.5% and Portugal at 30.3%. The widespread nature of these increases highlights how broadly higher costs have affected the bloc.
Hungary experienced the smallest annual increase among EU member states at 6.9%. Ireland and Sweden recorded 17.7% and 19.9%, respectively. In Cyprus, prices increased by 24.6%, which is still below the EU average. The data demonstrate that drivers in nearly every member state paid significantly more at the pump than they did a year earlier. Some governments, including Germany, have responded by reducing fuel taxes to help ease household expenses.
September sees continued climb in diesel and petrol prices
Monthly comparisons reveal sharp price increases, with diesel across the EU rising by 5.9% from August to September. Petrol prices increased by 6.7% during the same period. In August, diesel had climbed by 8.3% and petrol by 3.3% compared to July. These figures indicate persistent upward pressure on transport fuel costs through the late summer and into autumn.
Between August and September, 26 EU countries experienced rising diesel prices. Sweden saw the highest monthly increase at 12.8%, followed by 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%. These monthly changes reflect significant disparities among member states, with national taxes and duties comprising a substantial part of the final pump price in most countries.
Sweden reports the largest monthly increase in petrol prices
Petrol prices also increased in 26 member states between August and September, with Sweden again leading at 13.8%. Poland followed with 9.7%, and Estonia with 9.5%. The smallest rises were observed in Cyprus at 3.8%, Romania at 4.2%, and Slovenia at 4.6%. Despite recording one of the lowest annual increases, Sweden experienced the biggest monthly jumps in both diesel and petrol prices. Cyprus, meanwhile, remained below the EU average for the annual measure.
Rising energy prices have contributed to higher consumer costs throughout Europe this year. Euro area inflation reached 3.3% in August, driven largely by energy costs. The Bank of Italy recently projected that oil prices would average $114 a barrel in the last quarter of 2026. Eurostat plans to release additional price data soon, underscoring the ongoing importance of fuel expenses for households and transportation businesses.