Source: ABC News

Story By: Rebecca Hyam

There are some signs Australian consumers may be growing more confident, with a surprisingly strong rise in retail sales in April.

Most economists were expecting retail sales to rise by 0.4 per cent from March to April, but Bureau of Statistics figures show a jump of 1.1 per cent to $20.74 billion.

Sales at department stores rose 3.6 per cent in April in seasonally adjusted terms.

Clothing and shoe sales were particularly resilient.

Some analysts suggest the five-day long weekend for Easter and Anzac Day may have lured more shoppers into stores.

ANZ senior economist Riki Polygenis says while it may take a few months to establish if this is part of a more positive trend, it is a good start.

"It does appear that households, while they do remain cautious, they are spending to some degree," she said.

"It will depend on whether we see this increase in April reversed in May and June, but at this stage it is an encouraging sign for consumer spending."

The head of the Retailers Association, Margy Osmand, says the figures are encouraging.

"It's probably the best increase we've seen since 2009," she said.

"I think the worrying factor is that it's a bit of a rollercoaster, and in a business world where everybody prefers certainty, we're seeing a great deal of up and down and I'm not convinced that these April figures are the one swallow that makes this summer."

To read the full story, follow this link: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/02/3233775.htm