The US Thanksgiving weekend brought in revenues of more than $22 billion, with luxury goods proving particularly popular, according to the latest research figures from the National Retail Federation (NRF).

The BIGresearch survey suggested that total sales for the holiday period went up 4.5 per cent in comparison to last year, with the day after Thanksgiving proving particularly profitable, as sales rose by more than ten per cent.

An estimated 16 per cent of shoppers splashed out on jewellery or precious metal accessories, with luxury goods generally performing well.

With platinum jewellery enjoying a resurgence in the US in recent years as the bridal market has moved towards the precious metal, the Thanksgiving bonanza could be good news for the industry.

Purchases of platinum for jewellery in North America as a whole hit 310,000 oz in 2003, according to the latest figures from Johnson Matthey.