Retail sales show fastest rise since '06

LONDON (Reuters) - Retail sales rose at their fastest rate in three years in April, a survey showed on Tuesday, but experts cautioned that the figures were flattered by the timing of Easter.

There were also tentative signs of an improvement in the housing market where prices in England and Wales fell at their slowest pace in 15 months in the three months to April. New buyer enquiries rose at their fastest pace in a decade, a survey indicated on Tuesday.

The data helped to push the pound up 0.3 percent to $1.5182, edging towards a 4-month peak set last Friday.

The British Retail Consortium said like-for-like sales on the high street 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.

However, 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.