French inflation was zero in 2015, the national statistics agency Insee said on Wednesday. Prices rose 0.5 percent in 2014. "This new slowdown in consumer prices is mostly due to a sharp reduction in energy prices, in particular for oil products," Insee said in a statement. Stripping out energy, consumer prices rose by an average 0.5 percent over last year. Average annual price rises are distinct from the more common December year-on-year comparison, which came in at a rise of 0.2 percent, excluding energy.