BARCELONA (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) March sales figures were distorted because of an early Easter, Director Jack Shewmaker said on Thursday.

Combined figures for March and April at the world's largest retailer would likely be strong, he said.

"I think that if you combine the two of them ... they are going to be good," he told Reuters at the sidelines of the World Retail Congress.

Wal-Mart earlier reported a 0.7 percent rise in March sales at U.S. stores open at least a year, missing Wall Street expectations.

(Reporting by Sonya Dowsett)