Why are fuel prices rising again in September 2026?
Conflict in the Middle East has disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the route for one fifth of global oil and gas supplies. Wholesale UK gas prices reached 205 pence per therm this week, double the June level and the highest since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Brent crude briefly exceeded 100 dollars per barrel on 9 September. The disruption follows attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf that limited access through the Strait of Hormuz. Britain imports roughly 70 percent of the gas it consumes, leaving it exposed to every swing in international prices. The same route carries one fifth of world oil and gas, so any sustained blockage immediately lifts wholesale costs across Europe. The attacks began after Iran restricted passage, compounding earlier supply strains from the war in Ukraine. Prices had already climbed steadily through the summer before the latest spike pushed them to the highest mark recorded since 2022.
How full are European gas storage sites ahead of winter?
EU storage stands at 67 percent capacity, well below the seasonal average of nearly 80 percent. Germany holds about 50 percent and is unlikely to reach its 70 percent target. The Netherlands is also expected to miss its 80 percent goal. Low summer refills followed the Hormuz disruption and left reserves at their lowest level in more than a decade. The facilities that normally fill when prices are cheapest could not be topped up because tanker traffic was interrupted. Germany possesses the largest storage capacity on the continent yet sits far below its official target, while the Netherlands faces the same shortfall. Britain, already reliant on pipeline imports from Europe and LNG tankers from the United States and the Middle East, enters winter with one of the smallest domestic buffers in the region. The shortfall means many countries will have to buy gas at peak winter prices rather than having stocked up earlier.
Which countries feel the greatest pressure on fuel bills?
Greeks, Italians and Portuguese express the highest anxiety. In Greece 31 percent say they are very worried about fuel costs and another 53 percent are concerned but expect to cope, for a total of 84 percent under pressure. Portugal recorded its largest petrol and diesel price increases in four years on 7 September. The survey of ten countries found southern Europeans most exposed because they already spend a larger share of income on transport. In Greece the combined share of adults feeling pressure reached 84 percent, while Portugal saw historic peaks in both petrol and diesel on a single day. The price of Brent crude staying above 100 dollars per barrel for an extended period adds further strain to these households. The pattern is consistent across the southern tier, where transport costs form a larger share of monthly budgets than in northern Europe.
What spending cuts are households making?
More than one third of respondents across ten countries have reduced food or health-care spending in the past year. Greeks and Moldovans report such cuts three times more often than Germans or Britons. One quarter of Europeans have skipped medical appointments. Three in ten now avoid using a car for work commutes. Nearly seven in ten have taken at least one energy-saving step such as turning off heating in rooms or taking cold showers. The first sacrifices are holidays and visits to distant relatives. When those are not enough, people turn off heating in parts of the home or stop using certain appliances. Greeks and French respondents are the most likely to close off rooms, while Moldovans more often disconnect electrical devices entirely. These measures compound over time, turning a one-off price shock into repeated reductions in living standards.
What does the survey reveal about economic insecurity?
Twenty-nine percent of respondents describe their financial situation as precarious. Seventy-three percent fear they will not be able to meet fuel costs. The Ipsos and Secours populaire français poll covered 10 000 adults in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the United Kingdom and Serbia. The findings show that energy poverty is no longer a short-term shock but a lasting condition for nearly three in ten households. With winter storage targets already out of reach, the survey indicates that the same groups cutting food and health budgets will face still higher bills in the months ahead. The data point to a widening gap between countries that can absorb the shock and those where households have already exhausted their buffers.
Frequently asked questions
Which European country has the lowest gas storage?
Germany currently holds the lowest share at roughly 50 percent of capacity.
Have Greeks cut medical spending more than other nationalities?
Greeks rank among the groups most likely to reduce health-care spending, together with residents of Moldova.
What share of Europeans have skipped a doctor visit?
Twenty-three percent of those surveyed reported missing medical appointments because of higher energy costs.
Is the UK particularly exposed to gas price swings?
Yes. Britain imports about 70 percent of its gas and maintains one of the lowest domestic storage capacities in Europe.
Did Brent oil stay above 100 dollars?
The price exceeded 100 dollars on 9 September and remained elevated the following morning.
