BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – In September, Bulgaria experienced the most significant escalation in fuel prices within the European Union, with costs rising by 31.4% compared to the previous year. The price of fuels and lubricants used for personal transportation in Bulgaria saw a jump of 42.2%. The data was released by Eurostat on October 21, reflecting a marked acceleration from July’s 16.9% and August’s 23.8% increases.
Estonia and Lithuania were the only other EU member states to report annual growth exceeding 40%, at 40.6% and 40.2%, respectively. Additionally, 12 nations experienced increases surpassing 30%. Within this group, annual price hikes ranged from 37.5% in Czechia to 30.3% in Portugal. During September, 26 EU countries saw their year-over-year prices higher than both July and August, indicating a widespread upward trend across nearly the entire bloc.
Hungary recorded the smallest annual increase, at 6.9%, followed by Ireland at 17.7%. Sweden’s prices rose by 19.9%, while Cyprus, with a 24.6% increase, still remained below the EU average. These figures cover fuels and lubricants purchased by households for cars and other personal vehicles, forming part of the EU’s harmonized consumer price data.
Continued Monthly Price Growth for Diesel and Petrol
In September, EU consumers paid 5.9% more for diesel than in August, while petrol prices increased by 6.7% over the same period. A month prior, diesel had risen by 8.3% and petrol by 3.3% compared to July. Notably, petrol prices outpaced diesel’s rate of increase in September. These growth trends contribute to the road fuel costs that EU drivers are facing this year. Eurostat gathered these figures from national consumer price data.
Between August and September, diesel prices increased in 26 EU countries. The sharpest monthly jumps were recorded 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 price increases registered monthly changes over 3%. Variations in national taxes and market conditions influence how swiftly these price shifts impact consumers at the pump.
Sweden and Poland Show Largest Petrol Price Hikes
Petrol prices also grew in 26 member states during the month. Sweden saw the highest increase at 13.8%. Poland and Estonia followed with rises of 9.7% and 9.5%, respectively. Cyprus experienced the smallest growth at 3.8%, with Romania at 4.2% and Slovenia at 4.6%. Both Poland and Sweden ranked among the top three countries for increases in diesel and petrol prices for September. Sweden led in both categories, highlighting significant regional price shifts.
The upward trend in fuel expenses occurs amid rising energy prices affecting consumers across Europe. Inflation in the euro area reached 3.3% in August, driven largely by energy costs. The Bank of Italy forecasts an average oil price of $114 per barrel in the last quarter of 2026. These surges in fuel costs influence household budgets and transportation and logistics expenses alike. Eurostat’s upcoming monthly reports will reveal whether this upward trajectory persists. Fuel remains one of the most noticeable components of household expenditure.