Fuel price surge in the EU: Bulgaria sees the highest increase in May

22.06.2026 | Oversight and accountability

Eurostat data shows a 20.7% increase in fuel prices in the EU in May. Bulgaria tops the ranking for the highest price hike with a record 33.9% year-on-year.

Снимка от Tony Webster, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Record growth in fuel prices in the European Union

Prices for fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment in the European Union recorded a significant increase of 20.7% in May 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year. Eurostat data confirm the upward trend that has been observed since the beginning of spring.

Bulgaria holds the top spot in the EU with an annual fuel price increase of 33.9%.

Where did fuel prices increase the most?

For comparison, the smallest increase was recorded in Hungary (3.5%), while the other countries range between 12.7% and 29.2%.

Difference in gasoline and diesel prices

Eurostat reports different rates for the two main types of fuel:

An interesting fact is that on a monthly basis (May compared to April), there was a decrease in diesel prices by 5.8%, while the price of gasoline increased by 0.8%.

Trends in vehicles

Despite a slight drop in diesel prices in a number of member states in May, gasoline remains more expensive in 23 of the EU countries. Germany, Ireland, and Sweden are among the few exceptions where a drop in the price of gasoline was reported compared to April.