Like-for-like sales increased by 3.7% in April compared to the same period in 2018, when they registered a 4.2% downturn year on year.

Total retail sales for the month saw a 4.1% uptick, against a downturn of 3.1% in April 2018. This was above both the three- and 12-month average increases of 1.2% and 1.4% respectively.

The BRC said the April figures were “positively distorted by the timing of the run-up to Easter”, which fell later in April this year compared to 2018. It said it was then more accurate to look at the two-year averages.