BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – According to Eurostat, fuel prices for private transportation in the European Union increased by 31.4% in September 2026 when compared to the same month in the previous year. This marks the most significant rise over the past three months. In July, annual growth was at 16.9%, and it rose to 23.8% in August. The data covers both fuels and lubricants used in personal vehicles. Eurostat released these figures on October 21. This index is part of the EU’s standardized consumer price statistics.
In September, 26 out of the 27 EU countries recorded higher annual increases than in July and August. Bulgaria experienced the largest increase at 42.2%. Estonia followed with 40.6%, and Lithuania with 40.2%. These were the only three member states where prices grew by more than 40%. An additional 12 countries reported annual hikes exceeding 30%, ranging from 37.5% in Czechia to 30.3% in Portugal. These widespread increases demonstrate how the rising costs have affected nearly all parts of the bloc.
Hungary saw the smallest annual increase in the EU at 6.9%. Ireland’s rise was 17.7%, while Sweden recorded 19.9%. In Cyprus, prices grew by 24.6%, which is below the EU average. The data indicate that drivers in almost every member state paid significantly more at the pump than they did a year earlier. To alleviate the financial pressure on households, some governments, including Germany, have moved to cut fuel taxes.
September sees further increases in diesel and petrol prices
Prices for diesel and petrol also experienced notable month-to-month growth. Across the EU, diesel prices increased by 5.9% in September compared to August. Petrol prices rose by 6.7% during the same period. In August, diesel had climbed by 8.3%, and petrol by 3.3% relative to July. These figures suggest sustained upward momentum in transport fuel costs from late summer into autumn.
Between August and September, 26 EU countries saw diesel prices rise. Sweden had the highest monthly increase 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 changes highlight significant variation among member states. In most EU countries, national taxes and duties constitute a large portion of the final pump price.
Sweden experiences the largest monthly increase in petrol prices
Between August and September, petrol prices increased in 26 member states. Sweden again recorded the biggest rise at 13.8%. Poland was next with 9.7%, and Estonia with 9.5%. The smallest 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 experienced the largest monthly jump in both diesel and petrol prices. Cyprus also remained below the EU average on the annual measure.
Rising energy costs have contributed to increasing consumer prices across Europe this year. Euro area inflation reached 3.3% in August, largely driven by energy prices. The Bank of Italy recently stated it expects oil prices to average $114 a barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026. Eurostat will release additional price data in the upcoming weeks. Fuel expenses continue to be a major factor affecting household budgets and transportation companies.