Warm weather and the late Easter gave Britain's high streets a much-needed boost in April, sending sales to their highest level since November, it emerged today.

According to figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), year-on-year sales growth recovered from recent lacklustre performances with 37 per cent of retailers questioned reporting sales were up on the same month last year.

Shops selling clothing, footwear and leather goods reported the biggest increases. The sharpest falls in demand were among specialist food retailers and chemists, with 27 per cent of retailers reporting a fall in April sales.

But it was not all good news for stores. The figures came in well below longer term averages.

The CBI's distributive trades survey also showed underlying sales growth remained weak, with the three-month average indicating sales were broadly the same as a year ago.

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at stockbroker Gerrard, said: "While some comfort may be drawn from this improvement, it still points to a generally subdued picture on the high street."

The CBI considered sales to be only average for the time of year and is predicting only "very modest" sales growth in May.

During April, the improvement in sales did not lead to any fall in stocks held by retailers, which increased slightly as orders placed with suppliers increased. In March stocks were at their lowest level for almost two years and orders to suppliers fell.

Alastair Eperon, chairman of the CBI's distributive trades panel and a director of Boots, said: "With a later Easter this year, April's figures have benefited but that mustn't obscure the underlying slowdown.

"Through most of 2002 the economy was supported by strong consumer spending. Now, when month to month swings are taken out, retail sales growth has halted."

Mr Eperon added the figures were further evidence that the stimulus of an interest rate cut was needed in parts of the economy beyond manufacture.

The CBI has been lobbying the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee to make a further cut in interest rates, currently at 3.75 per cent, at its meeting next Thursday.

Wholesalers reported a third consecutive month of year-on-year sales growth, though the rate was slower than in March.

Sales expectations among wholesalers for the year to May are the poorest for seven months.

New car sales fell for the year to April, the ninth consecutive monthly fall. The three-month average was at its lowest since November 2000.