TORRANCE (AP) — Toyota says its U.S. sales dropped 7 percent in 2011, hurt by supply problems from Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.

The Japanese automaker sold 1.6 million vehicles during the year, down from 1.8 million the year before. For December, sales edged up less than a percent to 178,131.

The March earthquake and tsunami hampered Toyota’s supply of critical parts for several months, reducing the number of vehicles it could stock at dealers.

In recent months, launches of models like the redesigned Camry and the Prius V have boosted sales. Camry sales rose 7 percent in December, while Prius sales climbed 9 percent.

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