BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – In the European Union, fuel costs for personal vehicles experienced a significant jump of 31.4% in September 2026 compared to the same month last year, as reported by Eurostat. This marks the steepest increase over the past three months, following a 16.9% rise in July and 23.8% in August. The data encompass fuels and lubricants used in private cars, and Eurostat released this information on October 21. The index forms part of the EU’s standardized consumer price statistics.
Compared to July and August, September’s yearly increases were notably higher in 26 out of the 27 EU nations. Bulgaria saw the largest rise at 42.2%, with Estonia at 40.6% and Lithuania at 40.2%. These three countries were the only ones where prices increased by more than 40%. An additional 12 countries registered annual growth rates above 30%, with Czechia at 37.5% and Portugal at 30.3%. The widespread nature of these increases highlights how broadly elevated costs have become across the bloc.
Hungary experienced the smallest annual increase at 6.9%, while Ireland was at 17.7%, and Sweden’s rise stood at 19.9%. In Cyprus, prices climbed by 24.6%, which is below the EU average. The figures demonstrate that motorists almost everywhere in the EU paid significantly more at the pump than they did a year prior. Some governments, such as Germany, have responded by cutting fuel taxes in an effort to lessen the financial strain on households.
In September, diesel and petrol prices continue their upward trend
Fuel prices also experienced notable increases from month to month. In September, diesel prices across the EU grew by 5.9% compared to August, while petrol prices went up by 6.7%. In August, diesel had risen by 8.3% and petrol by 3.3% over July. These figures point to persistent upward pressure on transport fuel expenses through late summer and into autumn.
Between August and September, 26 EU countries saw diesel prices climb, with Sweden recording the highest monthly growth at 12.8%. Latvia followed with a 10.3% increase, 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 monthly data reveal considerable variation among member states, with national taxes and duties constituting a large portion of the final pump price in most EU countries.
Sweden leads monthly petrol price rises as well
Petrol prices in 26 EU member states also increased from August to September. Sweden experienced the largest jump at 13.8%, while Poland followed with 9.7%, and Estonia at 9.5%. The smallest increases were noted in Cyprus at 3.8%, Romania at 4.2%, and Slovenia at 4.6%. Despite one of the lowest annual increases, Sweden recorded the most significant monthly rises for both diesel and petrol. Cyprus remained below the EU average on the annual measure.
Rising energy costs have contributed to higher consumer prices across Europe this year. Euro area inflation reached 3.3% in August, driven largely by energy prices. The Bank of Italy announced last week that it anticipates 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. Fuel expenses continue to be a major factor influencing household budgets and the operations of transport companies.