DETROIT - Chrysler says its U.S. sales last year were the best since 2007.

The company says sales rose 21 percent for the year, led by the Ram pickup and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV.

For December, Chrysler's sales increased 10 percent to 152,367 cars and trucks.

Americans bought new vehicles at a strong pace last month. The robust sales came even with uncertainty in Washington over a budget deal that would have raised taxes and cut spending sharply, threatening the U.S. economy.

Chrysler says industry sales jumped to an annual rate of 15.8 million in December, making it the strongest month of the year.

The company was the first carmaker to report sales Thursday.