VCR sales rose sharply in January.

Videocassette recorder sales topped 638,000 units last month, pushing the total number sold in the United States since the product was introduced in 1975 to more than 17 million. The Electronic Industries Assn. predicted that the upward trend will continue, with 9.45 million VCRs expected to be sold in 1985 compared to 7.6 million last year. Color video-camera sales went up 14.5% from the same time last year while both color and black and white television sales declined, the association said.