Important growth measure state final demand increased by 1.6 per cent in the March quarter, the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated.

It was the third highest growth rate among states and territories and followed increases of 6 per cent and 3.7 per cent in the previous two quarters.

They marked the start of the fightback from the crash in the June quarter of 2020, when state final demand slumped by 7.9 per cent.

Household consumption spending was the key to March quarter growth, with government consumption spending, housing investment, business investment and public sector investment making smaller contributions in dollar terms.

Economist Saul Eslake said Tasmania's March quarter state final demand was 2.1 per cent larger than its highest pre-coronavirus level (the September quarter of 2019).

"This compares with a 1.4 per cent increase over the pre-COVID peak for Australia as a whole (which was in the December quarter of 2019), and suggests Tasmania has thus far had a stronger economic recovery than any other part of Australia except Western Australia and Queensland and, in particular, stronger than New South Wales or Victoria," he said.

Tasmanian retail sales firmed again in April, despite the federal JobKeeper wage subsidy ending in late March.

Total turnover increased by $2.4 million to $645.1 million (0.4 per cent) in seasonally adjusted terms, the ABS estimated.

Monthly spending now appears to be locked in at the next level from pre-pandemic days (such as $575.5 million in February 2020, just before the economic crash).

National turnover increased by 1.1 per cent in April.

Tasmanian sales were led, as always, by supermarkets and grocery stores.

They increased turnover by $1.1 million to $243.1 million.

There was no clear evidence of the loss of JobKeeper hitting sales, as turnover for some non-essential items increased, while it decreased for some others.

April was a fourth successive month of Tasmanian turnover growth.

Tasmanian exports are continuing to strengthen.

State Treasury analysis of ABS figures showed the state's merchandise exports sent overseas in the year to March increased by 5.1 per cent in value to $3.7 billion.

The 3.2 per cent annual increase was in contrast to a national decrease of 5.1 per cent.

China, not including Hong Kong, remained easily Tasmania's biggest foreign market.

It accounted for 42 per cent of Tasmanian overseas merchandise exports by value.

South Korea (7.2 per cent) was the second biggest buyer.

Mining and related industries continued as Tasmania's top export earners.

Non-ferrous metals accounted for 34.1 per cent of total value and metallic ores and metal scraps 23.5 per cent.