Energy drives European producer prices higher
Industrial producer prices rose by 2.5 per cent month on month in the eurozone and 2.6 per cent in the EU in September.
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Prices received by industrial companies in the eurozone for their products rose by 2.5 per cent in September compared with August. In the European Union, the increase was 2.6 per cent, according to a first estimate by Eurostat.
The rise was driven mainly by energy. In the eurozone, energy products were 7.8 per cent more expensive in September than in August; excluding energy, industrial producer prices rose by just 0.1 per cent. In the EU, the respective figures were 7.7 and 0.2 per cent.
Year on year, producer prices in the eurozone were 11.1 per cent higher than in September 2025. For the EU, the increase was 10.9 per cent. Energy was again the main driver: prices were 30.8 per cent higher in the eurozone than a year earlier and 30 per cent higher in the EU.
- Eurozone
- EU
Show the figures
| Eurozone | EU | |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| May 2026 | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Jun 2026 | -0.3% | -0.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 1.6% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| Sep 2026 | 2.5% | 2.6% |
Dutch industry followed the European pattern, but with a smaller monthly increase of 1.5 per cent in September. Eurostat measures factory-gate prices for products sold on the domestic market; import prices are excluded from this index. According to Eurostat, the figures have not been adjusted for seasonal or calendar effects.
The development does not automatically mean that consumer prices are rising at the same pace. Producers may absorb some higher costs in their margins, pass them on to customers or adjust their production. Dutch figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) show the same sensitivity to energy: petroleum product prices rose by 75.4 per cent year on year in September, while food products were 4.1 per cent cheaper.
Eurostat describes the figures as a first estimate. The publication reports that the monthly increase for August in the eurozone was later revised from 1.9 to 2.0 per cent; for the EU, the monthly increase remained 1.9 per cent. The key question is therefore not only how high the September increase is, but also how long the energy component will continue to feed through into production costs, consumer prices and company profits.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- The increase excluding energy remained limited to 0.1 per cent in the eurozone and 0.2 per cent in the EU in September.
- Dutch producer prices rose by 1.5 per cent month on month, less than the eurozone average of 2.5 per cent.
▼ Concerns
- Energy prices rose by 7.8 per cent month on month in the eurozone and were 30.8 per cent higher than a year earlier.
- Total producer prices were 11.1 per cent higher year on year in the eurozone and 10.9 per cent higher in the EU.
Critical note
This is a nominal price index, not a measure of production volume, profit or purchasing power. The exceptionally high increase is mainly in energy; excluding energy, prices in the eurozone rose by 3.5 per cent year on year.
Who notices what
- Businesses
- Energy-intensive companies may face higher costs and may decide to pass some of them on.
- Households
- Higher producer prices may later feed through into consumer prices, but the pass-through is not one-to-one.
- Investors
- The figures may increase attention to margins, energy sensitivity and interest-rate expectations.
- Government
- When responding to price pressures, policymakers may also take the consequences for industry and energy use into account.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The figures and definitions were checked against Eurostat’s first estimate and additional Dutch figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The text distinguishes between producer prices, energy prices and consumer prices and mentions the revision status.
- confirmed Producer prices rose month on month by 2.5 per cent in the eurozone and 2.6 per cent in the EU in September. — Eurostat gives these percentages in its official first estimate. source
- confirmed Energy prices rose month on month by 7.8 per cent in the eurozone and 7.7 per cent in the EU. — Eurostat gives this breakdown for September 2026. source
- confirmed Year on year, producer prices rose by 11.1 per cent in the eurozone and 10.9 per cent in the EU. — These year-on-year percentages appear in the Eurostat publication. source
- confirmed The monthly increase in the Netherlands was 1.5 per cent. — Eurostat reports a 1.5 per cent increase for the Netherlands in September 2026 compared with August. source
- confirmed Petroleum products in the Netherlands became 75.4 per cent more expensive year on year, while food products became 4.1 per cent cheaper. — CBS publishes these sector figures for September 2026. source
- confirmed The figures are a first estimate and August was revised for the eurozone from 1.9 to 2.0 per cent. — Eurostat explicitly mentions the provisional status and revision. source
Editor's note
The Eurostat publication is a first estimate for September 2026. It concerns producer prices on the domestic market, not consumer or import prices; the pass-through to households is therefore not one-to-one.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „producentenprijzen industrie”
- Het Parool — „producentenprijzen industrie”
- de Volkskrant — „producentenprijzen industrie”