Jewelry sales in the U.S. are expected to rise 6.3 percent from 2005 to reach $62.6 billion by the end of the year, according to the Bureau of Economic analysis.

Jewelry stores reported strong sales through the first half of 2006, with jewelry retailers' sales growing 8.3 percent from the 2005 mid-year results. From January to June this year, jewelry sales have topped $14.7 billion.

A report by Unity Marketing showed that America's leading retail jewelers, Zale Corporation and Sterling Jewelers have not kept pace with consumers' growing desire for jewelry. As a result, Unity said there is greater potential for the market to further expand to reach more consumers' needs by the end of the year.

Retail