Prices for fuels in Europe continue to rise, marking a third straight week of increases. As reported by the EU Petroleum Bulletin, gasoline costs rose by about 0.4 percent, while diesel climbed roughly 1.4 percent. These shifts reflect ongoing market pressures that influence fuel expenses for households and businesses alike.
Last week, gasoline averaged 1,563 euros per liter, up 0.39 percent, with diesel at 1,773 euros per liter, an increase of 1.37 percent. A government-mandated discount of 20 cents per liter applied to both fuels partially offset these gains. This discount policy has been in effect since April, shaping current price levels for consumers.
Gasoline prices sit at levels observed in early September, remaining close to those marks after a local trough earlier in the year when gasoline dropped to the year’s minimum. Diesel, conversely, hit a peak near 1,771 euros per liter in the week of July 18, underscoring the volatility in the diesel market through the summer months.
Without the government’s discount on automotive fuels since April, gasoline would have averaged around 1,763 euros per liter, while diesel would have approached 1,973 euros. The current values, even with the discount, show gasoline being about 4.4 percent higher than a year ago, a rise that predates the Russian invasion of Ukraine and against a baseline where diesel was about 29.1 percent higher in that same period. This snapshot highlights how policy measures interact with global price movements to shape domestic price realities.
On a broader horizon, gasoline prices are about 5.68 percent higher than at the start of 2022, with diesel showing an even starker gain of around 31.6 percent over the same interval. When compared with the immediate past, gasoline is up roughly 5.6 percent over the last month, and diesel about 9.3 percent higher. These monthly and yearly shifts illustrate the persistent upward pressure in European fuel markets and the uneven pace of price adjustments across fuel types.
Currently, gasoline prices sit roughly 19.5 percent below the June peak, while diesel prices remain about 6.7 percent below their own recent high. For a typical 55-liter tank, filling with gasoline costs about 86 euros, whereas diesel would require around 97.5 euros. In practical terms, that translates to an extra roughly 3.7 euros to fill a petrol tank versus a year ago, and about 21 euros more for a diesel-equipped vehicle. These calculations help households gauge monthly fueling costs as wholesale prices shift and policy measures influence the receipts at the pump.
Despite historically high price levels, Spain still reports fuel costs below the European Union average. Across the 27 EU countries, last week’s numbers show gasoline averaging 1,806 euros per liter and diesel about 1,973 euros. This broader context underscores how national pricing tracks global trends while staying tethered to regional economic dynamics.