BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – According to Eurostat, fuel costs for personal transportation in the European Union experienced a 31.4% increase in September 2026 compared to the same month the previous year. This marked the steepest rise over the past three months, following a 16.9% growth in July and a 23.8% increase in August. The statistics encompass fuels and lubricants used in private vehicles. Eurostat released this data on October 21, as part of the EU’s harmonised consumer price indicators.
Across 26 of the 27 EU nations, September’s annual growth rates exceeded those of July and August. Bulgaria saw the highest jump at 42.2%. Estonia followed with 40.6%, and Lithuania recorded 40.2%. These three countries were the only members where prices rose by over 40%. An additional 12 countries reported annual increases above 30%, with Czechia at 37.5% and Portugal at 30.3%. Such widespread increases highlight how broadly the rising costs have affected the entire bloc.
Hungary experienced the smallest annual increase in the EU, at 6.9%. Ireland’s growth was at 17.7%, while Sweden’s stood at 19.9%. Prices in Cyprus grew by 24.6%, slightly below the EU average. The data demonstrates that drivers nearly everywhere in the bloc paid significantly more at the pump than they did a year earlier. In response, some governments, including Germany, have implemented measures such as fuel tax cuts to alleviate pressure on households.
September sees continued climb in diesel and petrol prices
From one month to the next, fuel prices saw notable increases. Diesel prices across the EU surged by 5.9% in September compared to August, while petrol prices went up by 6.7% in the same period. In August, diesel had already increased by 8.3%, and petrol by 3.3%, relative to July. These figures indicate persistent upward momentum in transport fuel costs through late summer and into the autumn season.
Between August and September, 26 EU countries experienced rising diesel prices. Sweden recorded 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%. The data reveals significant variation among member states, largely influenced by national taxes and duties which constitute a substantial part of the final pump price in most EU countries.
Sweden leads monthly petrol price increases
Between August and September, petrol prices also increased in 26 member states. Sweden again posted the largest rise at 13.8%. Poland followed with 9.7% and Estonia with 9.5%. The smallest growth rates were noted in Cyprus at 3.8%, Romania at 4.2%, and Slovenia at 4.6%. Despite experiencing the highest monthly increases in both diesel and petrol, Sweden’s annual growth remained among the lowest. Cyprus similarly stayed below the EU average on the yearly comparison.
Rising energy prices have contributed to overall inflation across Europe this year. Euro area inflation hit 3.3% in August, mainly driven by energy costs. The Bank of Italy last week projected that oil prices will average $114 per barrel in the last quarter of 2026. Additional price data from Eurostat will be published soon. Fuel expenses continue to play a crucial role in household budgets and the operations of transport companies.