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EU fuel shock: uneven spikes as Hormuz blockade hits prices

Eurostat data show EU fuel prices rose about 13.5% from February to March 2026 after the Strait of Hormuz disruption tied to the Iran war, with diesel up around 19% and petrol about 11% for the period; Latvia and Sweden logged the largest monthly increases (over 20%), while year-on-year, Germany (+19.8%) and Romania (+19.6%) led the bloc, and Hungary (-2.7%) and Slovenia (-5.9%) kept prices capped. The UK saw diesel +26% and petrol +11% year over year, and EU officials hint at loosening state-aid rules to ease consumer pressure as the conflict drags on.