BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – In September, Bulgaria experienced the highest surge in fuel prices among all European Union member states, with costs rising by 31.4% compared to the previous year. Specifically, prices for fuels and lubricants used for personal transportation in Bulgaria increased by 42.2%. The overall EU figure was reported by Eurostat on October 21, marking an acceleration from 16.9% in July and 23.8% in August.
Estonia and Lithuania were the only other countries in the EU with annual increases exceeding 40%, at 40.6% and 40.2%, respectively. Additionally, 12 more nations registered price increases over 30%. Within this group, the rate ranged from 37.5% in Czechia to 30.3% in Portugal. In September, 26 EU countries experienced higher annual rates than both July and August, illustrating a trend of widespread price pressure across almost the entire bloc.
Conversely, Hungary reported the smallest annual increase at 6.9%, followed by Ireland at 17.7%, and Sweden at 19.9%. Cyprus, where prices went up by 24.6%, remained below the EU average. These figures cover the fuels and lubricants purchased by households for personal vehicles and are part of the EU’s harmonized consumer price data.
Ongoing Monthly Growth in Diesel and Petrol Prices
On a monthly basis, EU consumers paid 5.9% more for diesel in September compared to August, while petrol prices increased by 6.7% over the same period. The previous month saw diesel prices rise by 8.3% and petrol by 3.3% compared with July. As a result, petrol surpassed diesel as the faster-increasing fuel in September. These increases contribute to the road fuel costs faced by EU drivers this year. Eurostat based these figures on national consumer price data.
Between August and September, diesel prices rose in 26 EU countries. The largest monthly increases were observed in Sweden at 12.8%, Latvia at 10.3%, and Poland at 9.7%. Spain experienced the smallest rise at 2.4%, followed by Croatia at 2.5% and Romania at 3.0%. All other nations with increased prices saw monthly gains above 3%. Variations in taxes and market conditions across countries influence how quickly pump prices adjust for consumers.
Sweden and Poland Lead the Charge in Petrol Price Hikes
Over the same period, petrol prices increased in 26 EU member states. Sweden saw the most substantial jump at 13.8%, with Poland and Estonia close behind at 9.7% and 9.5%. Cyprus experienced the smallest increase at 3.8%, ahead of Romania at 4.2% and Slovenia at 4.6%. In September, Poland ranked among the top three countries for both diesel and petrol price increases, and Sweden topped both lists.
The rise in fuel prices coincides with rising energy costs impacting consumers throughout Europe. Inflation in the euro area reached 3.3% in August, driven largely by energy prices. The Bank of Italy forecasts an average oil price of $114 a barrel for the final quarter of 2026. Increased fuel expenses influence household budgets and add to transportation and logistics costs. Eurostat’s upcoming monthly reports will reveal whether these trends persist, considering fuel remains a highly visible component of household expenditure.