Honda Motor Company today reported a 7.8 percent rise in operating earnings last year. But the carmaker has predicted a fall in profits this year amid renewed concerns about U.S. car demand.

Operating profit for the year to the end of March was 689.45 billion yen ($5.75 billion).

Despite a fall in overall car demand and the use of virtually no sales incentives, Honda's sales grew 3.3 percent last year in the United States, where it makes almost all of its money.