BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – In September, Bulgaria experienced the most significant rise in fuel prices within the European Union, with costs across the bloc climbing by 31.4% compared to the previous year. The prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in Bulgaria surged by 42.2%. These figures were released by Eurostat on October 21. The data indicates an acceleration from 16.9% in July and 23.8% in August.
Estonia and Lithuania were the only other EU member states with annual increases surpassing 40%, registering at 40.6% and 40.2%. An additional 12 nations reported increases exceeding 30%. Among these, Czechia experienced a 37.5% rise, while Portugal’s increase stood at 30.3%. In September, 26 EU countries saw their annual growth rates higher than those in July and August. This trend points to widespread upward pressure on prices across nearly the entire bloc.
Conversely, Hungary recorded the smallest annual increase at 6.9%, followed by Ireland at 17.7%. Sweden saw a rise of 19.9%, and Cyprus, where prices increased by 24.6%, remained below the EU average. These figures pertain to fuels and lubricants purchased by households for personal vehicles, forming part of the EU’s harmonized consumer price data.
Continued Monthly Increases in Diesel and Petrol
Compared to August, EU consumers paid 5.9% more for diesel in September, while petrol prices increased by 6.7%. A month earlier, diesel had risen by 8.3%, and petrol by 3.3% compared with July. The latest data shows petrol prices outpaced diesel in September as the faster-growing fuel. These increases add to the road fuel costs faced by EU drivers this year. Eurostat compiled these figures based on national consumer price data.
Between August and September, diesel prices increased in 26 EU countries. The largest monthly jumps occurred 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 countries with price increases recorded monthly gains exceeding 3%. Variations in national taxes and market conditions influence how swiftly these price changes impact drivers at the pump.
Sweden and Poland Lead in Petrol Price Growth
Over the same month, petrol prices rose in 26 member states. Sweden recorded the highest increase at 13.8%, with Poland and Estonia following 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%. 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 prices occurs amid rising energy costs affecting consumers across Europe. Inflation in the euro area reached 3.3% in August, driven by energy prices. The Bank of Italy anticipates that oil will average $114 a barrel in the final quarter of 2026. Rising fuel costs impact household budgets as well as transport and logistics expenses. Eurostat’s upcoming monthly reports will reveal whether these upward trends persist. Fuel remains one of the most visible components of household expenditure.