EU household gas prices fall in first half of 2026

Traders Union
All News
Economic Data
EU household gas prices 2026

Highlights

EU household gas prices dropped by 10.2% from the second half of 2025 to the first half of 2026, hitting €0.11 per kWh, the lowest since 2022.
Price changes in national currencies show declines in 12 EU countries, with the steepest falls in Bulgaria, Greece and Spain and notable rises in Romania, Croatia and Slovakia.
Purchasing power disparities persist, as Sweden posts the highest PPS-adjusted price at 17.7 per 100 kWh and Hungary the lowest at 4.3, reflecting ongoing affordability gaps.

Eurostat data shows broad price decline

As reported by Eurostat, household gas prices across the EU decrease by 10.2% from the second half of 2025 and by 3.5% from the first half of 2025 in the first six months of 2026. The average price reaches €0.11 per kWh, the lowest EU level recorded after the first half of 2022.

Among countries with available data, Sweden records the highest household gas price at €0.22 per kWh, followed by the Netherlands at €0.16 and France and Portugal at €0.13. The lowest prices are in Hungary at €0.03 per kWh, Croatia at €0.05, and Romania and Slovakia at €0.06.

Measured in national currencies against the same period of 2025, prices decrease in 12 countries, increase in 7 and remain broadly stable in 4. The sharpest declines are in Bulgaria, Greece and Spain, while the largest increases are in Romania, Croatia and Slovakia.

Purchasing power gap highlights regional pressure

When adjusted for purchasing power standard, Sweden records the highest household natural gas price at 17.7 per 100 kWh, ahead of Portugal at 15.0 and the Netherlands at 13.8. The lowest PPS-based prices are in Hungary at 4.3, Luxembourg at 6.6 and Croatia at 6.8.

The figures indicate that lower nominal prices do not fully remove affordability pressures across the bloc, because the burden on households still varies significantly by country. The return of pre-crisis seasonal fluctuations also suggests that the extreme distortions seen during the 2022 energy shock are easing in the EU retail gas market.

Draghi’s warning on the risks of keeping interest rates above growth rates highlighted how prolonged tightening can worsen public debt dynamics and fuel pressure for “fiscal dominance,” even as central banks try to bring inflation under control. Our earlier article also noted his view that policymakers should aim for the lowest rate path consistent with price stability to avoid unnecessary damage to investment, productivity, and long-term growth, while complementing monetary policy with EU-wide measures to support strategic investment.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.