May 5 - Mexico's top retailer, Wal-Mart de Mexico, posted higher April same-stores sales on Thursday.

The company, known as Walmex, said sales at stores open at least a year rose by 6.8 percent from a year ago.

Mexican shoppers leaving Walmart in Mexico City

A Reuters survey of analysts had pointed to a 6.5 percent increase in same-store sales, helped by the Easter holiday period falling in April this year.

Walmex, controlled by U.S. giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc is fighting a price war with rivals to attract more customers.

Mexico's recovery from the global recession has been driven by manufacturing and consumer spending has remained sluggish.

Earlier in the day, Walmex shares closed down 1.47 percent at 34.26 pesos in local trading.

(Reporting by Dave Graham and Jason Lange;editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid)