EU fuel prices jump 23.8% year-on-year in August 2026

Fuel and lubricant prices for personal transport across the EU surged 23.8% in August compared to the same month last year, following year-on-year increases of 13.7% in June and 16.9% in July.

Prices for fuels and lubricants climbed in 26 of the 27 EU member countries in August compared with August 2025, Eurostat stated on Tuesday.

A total of 18 EU countries recorded annual price hikes exceeding 20% during the month.

Bulgaria posted the highest annual price increase at 34.5%, followed by Lithuania at 28.8%, Finland at 27.6%, Germany at 27.5%, and France at 27.4%.

Hungary registered the lowest annual price increase at 1.3%, while Sweden saw 6.1% and Ireland recorded 11.7%.

On a monthly basis, EU consumers faced an 8.3% increase in diesel prices and a 3.3% rise in petrol prices in August compared to July.

In July 2026, diesel prices had climbed 4.3% and petrol prices grew 4.7% relative to June.

Diesel prices increased in 26 EU countries between July and August 2026, led by Czechia at 14.3%, Bulgaria at 13.5%, and Luxembourg at 12.3%.

Italy recorded the lowest monthly diesel price increase at 5.2%, followed by Romania at 6.1% and the Netherlands at 6.2%.

Petrol prices rose in 22 member states, remained stable in two, and dropped in three countries.

Spain posted the largest monthly increase in petrol prices at 8.2%, followed by Romania at 6.6%, Italy at 6.3%, and Greek Cypriot at 6.2%.

Hungary recorded a slight monthly decrease in petrol prices at 0.6%, Denmark at 0.3%, and Slovakia at 0.1%.