BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – In September, Bulgaria experienced the most significant escalation in fuel prices among European Union countries, with overall costs across the bloc rising by 31.4% compared to the previous year. Specifically, prices for fuels and lubricants used for personal transportation in Bulgaria surged by 42.2%. This EU-wide statistic was released by Eurostat on October 21, marking an acceleration from the 16.9% increase observed in July and the 23.8% in August.
Estonia and Lithuania were the only other nations with annual fuel price increases exceeding 40%, registering 40.6% and 40.2% respectively, while an additional 12 countries reported rises of over 30%. Within this group, increases ranged from 37.5% in Czechia to 30.3% in Portugal, and in 26 EU nations, the September annual rate surpassed those of July and August, indicating a broadening trend of rising prices across nearly the entire region.
Conversely, Hungary experienced the smallest annual growth, at 6.9%, with Ireland coming in next at 17.7%, and Sweden recording a 19.9% increase. Cyprus, where prices grew by 24.6%, also remained below the EU average. These figures reflect costs for fuels and lubricants purchased by households for cars and personal vehicles and are part of the EU’s harmonized consumer price data.
Ongoing Monthly Increases 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 rose by 6.7% during the same period. The previous month saw an 8.3% increase in diesel and a 3.3% rise in petrol compared to July. As a result, petrol overtook diesel as the faster-rising fuel in September, adding to the road fuel costs faced by EU motorists this year. Eurostat compiled these figures from national consumer price data.
Between August and September, 26 EU countries experienced rises in diesel prices, with the most notable monthly increases in Sweden at 12.8%, Latvia at 10.3%, and Poland at 9.7%. In contrast, Spain had the smallest rise at 2.4%, followed closely by Croatia at 2.5% and Romania at 3.0%. All other nations observing increases saw monthly changes exceeding 3%, with variations largely influenced by differences in national taxes and market conditions that affect how quickly these price increases reach consumers at the pump.
Sweden and Poland Lead in Petrol Price Growth
Over the same period, petrol prices rose in 26 member states, with Sweden experiencing the highest increase at 13.8%. Poland and Estonia followed, recording 9.7% and 9.5% growth respectively. The smallest hike was in Cyprus at 3.8%, with Romania at 4.2% and Slovenia at 4.6%. Notably, Poland was among the top three countries for both diesel and petrol price increases in September, as was Sweden, which led both categories.
These rising fuel costs are occurring amidst a broader context of increasing energy prices impacting consumers across Europe, with inflation in the euro area reaching 3.3% in August, driven largely by energy costs. The Bank of Italy anticipates oil will average $114 a barrel in the final quarter of 2026. Elevated fuel prices not only strain household budgets but also increase expenses related to transport and logistics, with Eurostat’s upcoming monthly reports expected to clarify whether these upward trends persist, as fuel remains one of the most visible components of household expenditure.