UK retail sales remained broadly flat in the year to April, the CBI said today.

Responding to the CBI's latest Distributive Trades Survey, 44% of retailers said year-on-year sales volumes rose in the first half of April, while 41% said they were down.

The resulting balance of +3% was widely unexpected by retailers and was the highest figure since January 2008 (+4%). Although this is a marked improvement on the heavy falls reported in March (a balance of -44%), retailers do not expect it to last into May, when they foresee declining sales again (-15%).

Sales for the time of year were reported to be poor by a net 12% of retailers, although this is the least negative balance since February 2008 (-7%). They are set to remain similarly below average in May (-13%).

The three month moving average of sales volumes, which smooths out monthly peaks and troughs, remained negative (a balance of -22%), but was an improvement on March (-39%).