EU Fuel Prices Jump 23.8% Year-On-Year in August
European Commission data shows diesel and petrol costs surged significantly, with Bulgaria recording the highest annual increase at 34.5%.
Key points
- EU fuel prices for personal transport increased by 23.8% in August 2026 compared to the same month in 2025.
- Diesel prices rose by 8.3% monthly in August, while petrol prices increased by 3.3% over the same period.
- Bulgaria recorded the highest annual price increase at 34.5%, whereas Hungary saw the lowest rise at 1.3%.
Fuel prices for personal transport in the EU rose by 23.8% in August 2026. This marks a sharp acceleration from the 16.9% increase recorded in July. The annual cost of living for drivers has climbed steadily over the past three months.
The European Commission reported that 26 of the 27 member states saw price hikes. Bulgaria recorded the highest surge at 34.5%, while Lithuania followed with a 28.8% jump. Hungary saw the smallest annual increase at just 1.3% above last year's levels.
Diesel costs outpace petrol monthly
Diesel prices climbed by 8.3% between July and August 2026. This monthly rise was steeper than the 3.3% increase seen for petrol. Czechia experienced the largest monthly jump in diesel costs at 14.3%.
Petrol prices increased in 22 countries during the same period. Spain recorded the largest monthly rise at 8.2% for gasoline. Only three countries saw slight decreases, with Hungary dropping by 0.6%.
Regional variations remain significant
Price growth was not uniform across the bloc. Finland and Germany both posted annual increases above 27%. In contrast, Sweden and Ireland recorded much lower annual hikes of 6.1% and 11.7% respectively.
Malta remained an exception with fixed fuel prices since 2020. Its costs did not change during the reporting period. This stability contrasts sharply with the volatility seen in the rest of the EU.
