Ford's US sales up 7 percent in January Feb 1 10:46 AM US/Eastern DETROIT (AP) - Ford says that sales rose 7 percent in January on strong demand for small cars and SUVs. Ford is replacing the Escape with a new version later this year, and sales have been strong for months as customers take advantage of deals on the outgoing model. Ford Motor Co. said F-Series truck sales were up 8 percent while sales of the Ford Explorer rose 36 percent. Automakers and analysts say U.S. demand is continuing to grow at a steady pace as the economy recovers. TrueCar.com predicts sales will be up 7 percent in January industrywide.