Spending encouraging over the year: Hockey

Retail spending was flat in April compared to the previous month, but Treasurer Joe Hockey says it has been pretty encouraging over the past year.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has played down flat retail spending in April. (AAP)

Treasurer Joe Hockey has played down flat retail spending in April, saying the past year has been "pretty encouraging".

New retail trade figures show spending of $24.1 billion in April, barely changed from the previous month.

Mr Hockey told parliament on Thursday that spending had grown in 10 of the past 11 months and was 8.3 per cent higher than in the last year the previous Labor government.