- Bulgaria, Lithuania and Finland record sharpest annual increases; diesel prices rise across 26 EU countries
BRUSSELS: Fuel and lubricant prices for personal transport across the European Union rose by 23.8 percent year-on-year in August 2026, marking a sharp acceleration from the increases recorded in previous months, according to Eurostat.
The latest rise followed annual increases of 13.7 percent in June and 16.9 percent in July, highlighting a continued upward trend in fuel costs across much of the bloc.
Fuel prices rise in 26 EU countries
Fuel and lubricant prices increased in 26 of the 27 EU member states in August compared with the same month last year, while 18 countries recorded annual increases of more than 20 percent.
The steepest increases were reported in:
- Bulgaria: 34.5 percent
- Lithuania: 28.8 percent
- Finland: 27.6 percent
- Germany: 27.5 percent
- France: 27.4 percent
By contrast, the lowest annual increases were recorded in Hungary at 1.3 percent, followed by Sweden at 6.1 percent and Ireland at 11.7 percent.
Diesel prices climb sharply in August
On a month-to-month basis, EU consumers also faced higher fuel costs in August.
Diesel prices increased by 8.3 percent compared with July, while petrol prices rose by 3.3 percent, according to Eurostat.
Diesel prices increased in 26 EU countries between July and August, with the largest monthly rises recorded in Czechia at 14.3 percent and Bulgaria at 13.5 percent.
Petrol prices also rise across most of the bloc
Petrol prices increased in 22 EU countries during August, while three countries recorded declines and prices remained unchanged in two.
The largest monthly increases were registered in Spain, at 8.2 percent, and Romania, at 6.6 percent.
Meanwhile, modest declines were recorded in Hungary (-0.6 percent), Denmark (-0.3 percent) and Slovakia (-0.1 percent).
The latest Eurostat figures underline the broad-based increase in transport fuel costs across the EU, with diesel experiencing particularly strong month-on-month pressure in August.
BY: The Times Union
