The BRC said the value of sales last month was 4.4 percent higher than a year ago when measured on a like-for-like basis, the biggest rise since last April and double the increase in February.

Total sales, which include new floorspace, rose by an annual 6.6 percent, the best showing since April 2006.

The industry group's survey covered the five weeks from Feb 28 to April 3 which took in two days of the long Easter weekend. The March 2009 survey did not include any days of the Easter holiday.

"These are strong figures but they would have been only half as good without the distorting effect of Easter," said BRC director-general Stephen Robertson.

"Food sales received a big boost from Easter falling a week earlier than last year, with the first half of the bank holiday weekend reflected in these March results."