Brussels:In the first half of 2026, the average gas prices for EU households fell to £0.11 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This marks a 10.2% decrease compared with the second semester of 2025 and a 3.5% decrease compared with the first semester of 2025, as reported by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. This is the lowest average price of gas recorded in the EU since the first semester of 2022, with seasonal fluctuations resuming their pre-2022 energy crisis pattern.
According to Wam, among EU countries with available data, Sweden recorded the highest household gas prices at £0.22 per kWh, followed by the Netherlands (£0.16) and both France and Portugal at £0.13. The lowest prices were in Hungary (£0.03 per kWh), Croatia (£0.05), and both Romania and Slovakia at £0.06. Price changes in national currencies showed decreases in 12 countries, increases in 7, and stability in 4. The largest decreases were in Bulgaria (-14.5%), Greece (-11.3%), and Spain (-10.0%), whereas the largest increases were in Romania (+9.3%), Croatia (+8.9%), and Slovakia (+6.6%).
In terms of purchasing power standard (PPS), the highest natural gas prices for households were observed in Sweden (17.7 per 100 kWh), Portugal (15.0), and the Netherlands (13.8). The lowest PPS-based prices were in Hungary (4.3), Luxembourg (6.6), and Croatia (6.8).
Additionally, the average electricity prices for households in the EU decreased by 2.2% to £0.28 per kWh, down from £0.29 in the second half of 2025. Despite this decrease, electricity prices remained significantly above pre-2022 energy crisis levels. Notably, 6 countries reported electricity prices above £0.30 per kWh, while 5 countries had prices below £0.20 per kWh. Ireland reported the highest electricity prices at £0.39 per kWh, followed by Germany and Belgium at £0.36. Conversely, the lowest prices were observed in Hungary (£0.11), Malta, and Bulgaria (£0.13 each).
Compared with the first half of 2025, national currency comparisons revealed significant price movements in the first half of 2026. Household electricity prices rose sharply in Romania (+51.6%), Ireland (+19.8%), and Finland (+18.4%). Some countries, however, recorded notable decreases, such as Denmark (-31.7%) and Luxembourg (-24.1%).
In terms of PPS, the highest household electricity prices were in Romania (46.9 per 100 kWh), Poland (41.1), and Czechia (34.3). The lowest PPS-based prices were found in Malta (13.8), Hungary (14.7), and Luxembourg (15.5).