BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – According to Eurostat, fuel costs for personal transportation within the European Union increased by 31.4% in September 2026 compared to the same month last year. This marks the most significant jump over the previous three months, with July seeing a 16.9% annual growth and August at 23.8%. The data encompasses fuels and lubricants used in private vehicles, and was published by Eurostat on October 21 as part of the EU’s harmonised consumer price statistics.
In September, 26 out of the 27 EU nations experienced higher annual price increases than in July and August. Bulgaria saw the highest rise at 42.2%, followed by Estonia at 40.6% and Lithuania at 40.2%. These three countries were the only member states where prices surged by more than 40%. Additionally, 12 countries reported annual increases exceeding 30%, from 37.5% in Czechia to 30.3% in Portugal. The widespread nature of these increases highlights how elevated costs have affected the majority of the bloc.
Hungary experienced the smallest annual increase at 6.9%, with Ireland at 17.7% and Sweden at 19.9%. In Cyprus, prices grew by 24.6%, slightly below the EU average. The data indicate that drivers across nearly all member states paid significantly more at the pump than a year prior. Some governments, including Germany, have responded by reducing fuel taxes to lessen the burden on households.
Prices for Diesel and Petrol Continue to Climb in September
Monthly comparisons reveal continued upward pressure, with diesel prices across the EU rising by 5.9% in September compared to August. Petrol prices increased by 6.7% over the same period. In August, diesel had grown by 8.3%, and petrol by 3.3% compared with July. These figures suggest sustained cost increases for transport fuels into late summer and early autumn.
Between August and September, 26 EU countries experienced higher diesel prices. Sweden led with a 12.8% monthly increase, followed by Latvia at 10.3% and Poland at 9.7%. Conversely, Spain saw a 2.4% rise, Croatia 2.5%, and Romania 3.0%. The data highlights considerable variation among member states, largely due to the significant share of taxes and duties included in the final pump price in most EU countries.
Sweden Records Largest Monthly Increase in Petrol Prices
Between August and September, petrol prices also rose in 26 member states, with Sweden again experiencing the highest increase at 13.8%. Poland followed at 9.7%, and Estonia at 9.5%. The smallest rises were in Cyprus at 3.8%, Romania at 4.2%, and Slovenia at 4.6%. Despite one of the lowest annual increases, Sweden saw the largest monthly gains for both diesel and petrol. Meanwhile, Cyprus remained below the EU average for annual price growth.
Rising energy expenses have driven up consumer prices across Europe this year. Euro area inflation reached 3.3% in August, primarily driven by energy costs. Last week, the Bank of Italy projected that oil prices would average $114 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026. Eurostat will release additional data on prices in the upcoming weeks. Fuel expenses continue to significantly impact household budgets and transportation companies alike.