BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – In September, Bulgaria experienced the highest increase in fuel prices among EU countries, with costs rising by 31.4% compared to the previous year. Prices for fuels and lubricants used for personal transportation jumped by 42.2% in Bulgaria. The Eurostat report published on October 21 revealed this figure, marking a sharp acceleration from 16.9% in July and 23.8% in August.
Estonia and Lithuania were the only other member states to see annual increases exceeding 40%, at 40.6% and 40.2%, respectively. A further 12 nations recorded price rises over 30%, with increases ranging from 37.5% in Czechia to 30.3% in Portugal. In September, 26 EU countries experienced higher annual rates than both July and August, indicating a widespread trend of rising fuel prices across nearly the entire bloc.
Hungary reported the lowest annual increase at 6.9%, followed by Ireland at 17.7%, which was significantly below the EU average. Sweden’s prices rose by 19.9%, while Cyprus, with a 24.6% increase, also stayed below the overall average. These figures pertain to fuels and lubricants purchased by households for personal vehicles and form part of the EU’s harmonised consumer price data.
Ongoing Monthly Price Gains for Diesel and Petrol
In September, EU consumers paid 5.9% more for diesel compared to August, while petrol prices increased by 6.7% over the same period. A month earlier, diesel had risen by 8.3% and petrol by 3.3% compared with July. These latest figures show petrol outpacing diesel as the faster-rising fuel in September, further adding to the road fuel costs faced by EU motorists this year. Eurostat collected these figures from national consumer price data.
Between August and September, diesel prices increased in 26 EU countries, with the most significant monthly jumps recorded in Sweden at 12.8%, Latvia at 10.3%, and Poland at 9.7%. Conversely, Spain experienced the smallest rise at 2.4%, followed by Croatia at 2.5% and Romania at 3.0%. All other countries with price increases recorded monthly gains above 3%, with variations influenced by national taxes and market conditions affecting how quickly prices reach drivers at the pump.
Sweden and Poland See Largest Petrol Price Hikes
Over the same month, petrol prices also increased in 26 EU member states. Sweden experienced the highest jump at 13.8%, with Poland and Estonia following at 9.7% and 9.5%. The smallest increases were observed in Cyprus at 3.8%, with Romania at 4.2% and Slovenia at 4.6%. Poland ranked among the top three countries for both diesel and petrol price increases in September, as did Sweden, which topped both lists.
The escalation in fuel costs occurs amid rising energy prices affecting consumers across Europe. Inflation in the euro area reached 3.3% in August, driven by energy costs. The Bank of Italy predicts that oil will average $114 a barrel in the final quarter of 2026. Higher fuel prices impact household budgets as well as transport and logistics costs. Eurostat’s upcoming monthly reports will reveal whether these upward trends persist, with fuel remaining one of the most prominent items in household expenditure.