UK retail sales up 4.6 pct yy in April, Easter helped-BRC

British retail sales rose at their fastest rate in three years in April, a survey showed on Tuesday, but the figures were distorted by the timing of Easter. The British Retail Consortium said like-for-like sales jumped 4.6 percent in April compared with the same month a year ago, following a 1.2 percent drop in March.

Total sales, which include new floorspace, rose 6.3 percent on the year, after a 0.6 percent increase in March.

Both April measures were the highest since April 2006.

The BRC said comparisons were difficult to make because Easter fell in April this year but in March last year and there was better weather last month than a year ago.

"A sunny Easter that fell in April this year is the key reason why overall sales are up compared with last year when Easter was in March and miserable," said BRC Director General Stephen Robertson.

Easter can deliver a huge boost to retailers and the BRC figures echo a survey by the Confederation of British Industry, last month which was also unexpectedly strong.

However, it is unlikely that consumer spending is on the road to recovery as Britain faces its worst downturn in more than 60 years. Rising unemployment, weak pay growth and falling property values will also put people off splashing out.

"There's no reason to think customers suddenly feel flush or eager to spend. With unemployment set to grow through the rest of the year, mounting jobs worries will hold back spending for some time … we shouldn't celebrate yet," Robertson said.

The BRC said food sales enjoyed a boost over Easter and the warm weather increased sales of footwear, clothes and garden and home improvements goods. Furniture sales rose for the first time since January 2008 but this was compared with a sharp drop last April, while sales of electrical and electronic goods remained subdued, the lobby group said.