Romania Leads the EU in Fuel Price Growth: Prices up 24.2% Year on Year

The average cost of fuel and lubricants for personal transport in the European Union rose by 16.9% in July 2026 compared with July last year. Romania recorded the highest annual increase in the EU, at 24.2%. According to Eurostat, fuel was more expensive in July than a year earlier in 25 of the 27 EU member states. In 13 countries, the annual increase was higher than in June, Euronews reports. The largest year-on-year increase was recorded in Romania, at 24.2%, followed by Germany and Lithuania, at 22.9% each, and Bulgaria, at 22.2%. The smallest increases were recorded in Sweden, at 1.2%, and Ireland, at 3.2%. Hungary was the only EU country where fuel became cheaper compared with July 2025, declining by 0.1%. In July alone, average diesel prices in the EU rose by 4.3%, while petrol prices increased by 4.7% compared with June. By comparison, in June, European consumers paid an average of 6.4% less for diesel and 4.2% less for petrol than in May 2026. Diesel prices increased in 17 EU countries in July. The largest increases were recorded in Poland (13.4%), Germany (12.7%) and Greece (12.1%). In nine countries, diesel prices fell. The sharpest declines were recorded in Cyprus (7.9%), Sweden (7.4%) and Ireland (6.4%). Petrol prices increased in 14 EU countries in July, while falling in 12 compared with June. The largest increases were recorded in Poland (17.2%), Germany (11%) and Spain (7.1%). The most significant declines occurred in Sweden (11.1%), Cyprus (5.4%) and Ireland (4.1%). In Romania, diesel prices rose by 4.6% in July, while petrol prices fell by 0.8% compared with the previous month.