DETROIT – Chrysler says its U.S. sales rose 16 per cent last month for its best January in five years.

The company sold just nearly 118,000 cars and trucks last month. It’s a sign that the U.S. auto sales momentum from last year is continuing into 2013.

Industry analysts say Americans bought new vehicles at a strong pace last month, a bright spot in the economic recovery.

Chrysler estimates that total U.S. industry sales hit an annual rate of 15.5 million in January. If that holds for the rest of the year, automakers will sell 1 million more vehicles than in 2012.

The company was the first to report sales on Friday.