Fiat Chrysler January US sales up 14 pct., a sign that Northeast storm didn't dent auto sales

Fiat Chrysler says its U.S. sales rose 14 percent in January, a sign that car sales didn't spin out even with a major snowstorm hitting the Northeast.

Chrysler says it sold just over 145,000 vehicles last month for its best January since 2007. The Jeep brand posted its best January ever with sales up 23 percent. The new Cherokee small SUV led the way with a 44 percent increase, the largest gain of any Jeep model.

Overall, U.S. sales of new vehicles were expected to jump by double digits in January, continuing the brisk pace of the last half of 2014. Kelley Blue Book predicts sales will rise 13 percent to 1.14 million vehicles, making this the best January in nine years.

All automakers report U.S. sales results on Tuesday.