The price of auto diesel in Greece has climbed ten places over the past year, from fifteenth highest to fifth on the EU-28 list, an unprecendented leap for an EU member state, according to seasoned pundits.

A year ago, auto diesel prices in the Greek market were marginally higher than the EU average but are now five percent over the common market’s average of 1.243 euros per liter.

Auto diesel was priced at 1.186 euros per liter on December 19, 2016 and has now risen to 1.303 euros per liter, a 10 percent year-on-year increase.

The sharp price increase of the fuel, prompted by tax increases, has caught many diesel vehicle owners who have switched technologies by surprise.

Finland, the UK, Italy and Sweden occupy the EU’s top four places in terms of auto diesel prices.

Greece has also climbed higher on the EU list of gasoline and heating fuel prices over the past year. Last December, gasoline prices in Greece were the EU’s fourth highest and have since climbed a place to third. The price of heating fuel in Greece has risen from ninth to eighth place in the EU since last December.

The price of gasoline in Greece is currently at 1.534 euros per liter, 13 percent over the EU average of 1.359 euros per liter, according to latest European Commission data.