Ford's US sales up 2 percent in December

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DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. says its U.S. sales rose 2 percent in December, as strong sales of small cars made up for weak truck sales.

Sales of the Focus small car rose 58 percent from last December, while the Fiesta subcompact was up 53 percent. F-Series pickup truck sales were flat compared with last December. Sales of the new Ford Escape small SUV, which has been hit with several recalls, fell 21 percent.

Ford's U.S. sales were up 5 percent overall this year. Truck sales rose just 2 percent, but Ford saw higher increases for cars and SUVs like the Ford Explorer.

Sales of Ford's luxury Lincoln brand fell 4 percent as the company began a multi-year makeover of the brand.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.