LONDON (AP) Britain’s Tesco PLC, the world’s third-largest retailer, says group sales rose 6.8 percent in the 13 weeks through November 27, helped largely by strong Thanksgiving holiday sales in the US.

Tesco’s expanding US operations led the group with a 35 percent gain in sales at constant exchange rates.

The company said yesterday that sales were up 11.6 percent in Asia, 8.8 percent in Europe and 4.9 percent in Britain. The European and UK figures include gas sales.

Factoring out new store openings, closings and expansion, Tesco said US sales were up 9.8 percent, buoyed by increased shopping around Thanksgiving. Sales in Asia were up 4.3 percent, Europe a 3.1 percent gain and UK sales rose 1.6 percent.