BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – According to Eurostat, fuel costs for private transportation within the European Union increased by 31.4% in September 2026 compared to the same month last year. This marks the most significant rise over the previous three months, with July experiencing a 16.9% increase and August 23.8%. The reported figures encompass fuels and lubricants used in personal vehicles. Eurostat released this data on October 21, and it forms part of the EU’s harmonised consumer price statistics.
In 26 out of the 27 EU nations, the annual growth rates in September surpassed those seen in July and August. Bulgaria experienced the largest annual escalation at 42.2%. Estonia followed closely with 40.6%, and Lithuania with 40.2%. These three countries were the only ones where prices increased by over 40%. An additional 12 countries reported year-on-year increases exceeding 30%, with Czechia at 37.5% and Portugal at 30.3%. The widespread nature of these increases underscores how broadly rising costs have affected the entire bloc.
Hungary saw the smallest annual rise at 6.9%, while Ireland’s increase was 17.7%, with Sweden registering 19.9%. In Cyprus, prices went up by 24.6%, still below the EU average. The data clearly show that nearly every member state’s drivers paid significantly more at the pump compared to the previous year. Some governments, including Germany, have responded by cutting fuel taxes to help alleviate the financial pressure on households.
September Sees Further Rise in Diesel and Petrol Prices
Prices for both diesel and petrol continued their upward trajectory from month to month. In September, diesel prices across the EU grew by 5.9% compared to August, while petrol prices increased by 6.7% in the same period. In August, diesel had gone up by 8.3%, and petrol by 3.3%, compared to July. These figures indicate persistent upward pressure on transport fuel costs through late summer and into autumn.
Between August and September, 26 EU countries experienced an increase in diesel prices. Sweden recorded the highest monthly rise at 12.8%, followed by Latvia at 10.3% and Poland at 9.7%. The smallest increases were observed in Spain at 2.4%, Croatia at 2.5%, and Romania at 3.0%. These monthly variations highlight significant differences among member states, largely due to national taxes and duties that constitute a considerable portion of the final pump price in most EU countries.
Sweden Leads Monthly Petrol Price Hike
Between August and September, petrol prices rose in 26 member states. Sweden experienced the largest monthly increase at 13.8%, with Poland at 9.7% and Estonia at 9.5%. The smallest increases were registered in Cyprus at 3.8%, Romania at 4.2%, and Slovenia at 4.6%. Despite Sweden seeing the biggest monthly increases in both diesel and petrol, it recorded one of the lowest annual growth rates. Conversely, Cyprus remained below the EU average in the annual measure.
Rising energy costs have contributed to higher consumer prices across Europe this year. Euro area inflation hit 3.3% in August, driven primarily by energy prices. The Bank of Italy recently projected that oil prices will average $114 a barrel during the fourth quarter of 2026. Eurostat will release additional price data in the upcoming weeks. Fuel expenses continue to be a critical factor influencing household budgets and the operations of transport firms.