BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – According to Eurostat, the cost of fuels for private vehicles in the European Union increased by 31.4% in September 2026 compared to the same month a year earlier. This rise marked the most significant monthly jump over the past three months. During July, annual growth was 16.9%, climbing to 23.8% in August. The data covers fuels and lubricants used in personal transportation. Eurostat announced the figures on October 21, and they are part of the EU’s harmonised consumer price index.
In September, 26 of the 27 EU member states experienced higher annual increases than in July and August. Bulgaria saw the largest increase at 42.2%, followed by Estonia at 40.6% and Lithuania at 40.2%. These three countries were the only ones where prices rose by over 40%. An additional 12 countries reported annual increases exceeding 30%, with Czechia at 37.5% and Portugal at 30.3%. These widespread increases illustrate how broadly higher fuel costs have impacted the bloc.
Hungary reported the smallest annual growth at 6.9%, with Ireland at 17.7% and Sweden at 19.9%. In Cyprus, prices increased by 24.6%, which remains below the EU average. The data demonstrates that consumers in nearly every member state paid significantly more at the pump than they did a year prior. Some governments, such as Germany, have responded by cutting fuel taxes to ease the financial burden on households.
September sees continued rise in diesel and petrol prices
Fuel prices also experienced notable monthly increases. Diesel prices across the EU grew by 5.9% in September compared with August, while petrol prices went up by 6.7% during the same period. In August, diesel had increased by 8.3%, and petrol by 3.3% compared to July. These figures suggest persistent upward pressure on transportation fuel costs into the late summer and fall.
Between August and September, 26 EU countries saw diesel prices rise. Sweden recorded the highest monthly increase at 12.8%, with Latvia at 10.3% and Poland at 9.7%. Conversely, Spain experienced a 2.4% rise, Croatia 2.5%, and Romania 3.0%. The data shows considerable variation among member states, largely driven by national taxes and duties which constitute a significant portion of the final pump price in most EU countries.
Sweden reports the highest monthly increase in petrol prices
Petrol prices also increased in 26 member states from August to September. Sweden again posted the largest rise at 13.8%, followed by Poland with 9.7% and Estonia at 9.5%. The smallest increases were in Cyprus at 3.8%, Romania at 4.2%, and Slovenia at 4.6%. Despite seeing the biggest monthly gains for both diesel and petrol, Sweden’s annual increases remain among the lowest. Meanwhile, Cyprus remains below the EU average in annual price growth.
Rising energy costs have contributed to increased consumer prices across Europe this year. Euro area inflation reached 3.3% in August, driven primarily by energy. The Bank of Italy recently projected that oil prices would average $114 a barrel during the final quarter of 2026. Eurostat is expected to release additional price data in the upcoming weeks. Fuel expenses continue to be a major factor affecting household budgets and transportation companies alike.