Richard. And not just from play of "Merry Christmas Darling". Carpenters has a rabid fan base that will buy everything that comes out. There are actually more compilation albums than there were original studio LPs.
Also, Carly may have recorded for 38 years, but there weren't anything close to 35 years of hits. Her 2005, 2007 and 2008 albums all peaked in the top 15, but that was at a time when physical media sales were really low. It didn't take a lot to make the chart, or even make the upper reaches of the chart.
So going back to when there were actual sales happening, her last album to peak above #60 was 1987's "Coming Around Again", which peaked at #25 and was the best chart performer since 1978's "Boys In The Trees", which peaked at #10. Everything in that nine-year gap peaked between #36 and #88.
Her last Top 10 single was "You Belong To Me" in 1978. Her last Top 20 was "Coming Around Again".