BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – The rising cost of fuels for personal transportation across the European Union has become a significant concern as prices jumped by 31.4% in September 2026 compared to the same month last year, according to Eurostat. This marks the steepest increase over the past three months, with annual price growth at 16.9% in July and 23.8% in August. The data encompass fuels and lubricants used for private vehicles, and Eurostat released this information on October 21. The index forms part of the EU’s harmonised consumer price statistics.
Compared to July and August, the annual hikes recorded in September were higher in 26 of the 27 EU member states. Bulgaria experienced the largest increase at 42.2%. Estonia followed with 40.6%, and Lithuania with 40.2%. These three nations were the only ones where fuel prices grew by over 40%. An additional 12 countries reported yearly increases exceeding 30%, with Czechia at 37.5% and Portugal at 30.3%. The widespread nature of these increases illustrates how broadly elevated costs have become across the bloc.
Hungary registered the smallest annual growth at 6.9%, while Ireland was slightly higher at 17.7%, and Sweden at 19.9%. In Cyprus, prices increased by 24.6%, remaining below the EU average. The data clearly indicate that drivers in nearly every member state paid considerably more at the pump than they did a year earlier. In response, some governments, including Germany, have moved to cut fuel taxes to reduce the burden on households.
September sees continued rise in diesel and petrol prices
Fuel prices also increased notably from one month to the next. In September, diesel prices across the EU rose by 5.9% compared to August, and petrol prices climbed by 6.7% during the same period. The previous month, August, saw diesel prices grow by 8.3% and petrol by 3.3% compared to July. These figures indicate persistent upward pressure on transportation fuel costs through late summer into the fall.
Between August and September, diesel prices grew in 26 EU member countries. Sweden experienced the highest monthly increase at 12.8%, with Latvia following at 10.3%, and Poland at 9.7%. Conversely, the smallest increases were observed in Spain at 2.4%, Croatia at 2.5%, and Romania at 3.0%. The month-to-month data reveal significant disparities among member states, largely due to national taxes and duties that constitute a substantial portion of the final pump price in most EU countries.
Sweden records largest monthly rise in petrol prices
The trend of rising petrol prices was seen in 26 member states from August to September, with Sweden again experiencing the largest increase at 13.8%. Poland followed with 9.7%, and Estonia with 9.5%. The smallest monthly increases were in Cyprus at 3.8%, Romania at 4.2%, and Slovenia at 4.6%. Despite having one of the lowest annual increases, Sweden saw the biggest monthly jumps for both diesel and petrol. Meanwhile, Cyprus remained below the EU average in terms of annual price growth.
Rising energy costs have significantly impacted consumer prices across Europe this year. Euro area inflation hit 3.3% in August, largely driven by energy expenses. The Bank of Italy last week projected that oil prices will average $114 a barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026. Eurostat is expected to release additional price data in the upcoming weeks, highlighting that fuel costs continue to be a major factor affecting household budgets and the operations of transport firms.