ISTANBUL 

Mexico's retail sales increased 0.5% in April on a monthly basis, the country's statistical authority said Thursday.

While the market estimate for the figure was to show a 0.3% decline, retail sales monthly fell 0.2% in March.

Total employed personnel rose 0.6%, but real average salaries fell 0.8%, compared to the previous month, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) said in a statement.

On an annual basis, retail sales increased 3.2%, compared to the same month of last year.

The market expectation for the figure was to show an annual gain of 1.5%, following an increase of 2.7% in March.

Annually, total employed personnel and real average salaries rose 0.5% and 5.8%, respectively.

In retail commercial companies, real income showed an annual gain of 0.5%, while total employed personnel and real average salaries rose 1.4% and 4.5%, respectively, according to INEGI.