DETROIT — September was a blockbuster sales month for the U.S. auto industry — except at Volkswagen, where an emissions scandal forced the company to halt sales of most of its diesel vehicles.

Strong consumer demand, easy credit and generous incentives combined to fill dealer showrooms. The industry sold 1.44 million cars and light trucks last month, up 15.8 percent from a year ago.

Ford's U.S. sales grew 23 percent in September, Nissan surged 18 percent and Fiat Chrysler's U.S. sales jumped nearly 14 percent. Sales at General Motors rose 12 percent, while Toyota posted a 16 percent gain. Hyundai's sales were up 14 percent and Honda's rose 13 percent.

Analysts had expected big increases because Labor Day was included in September this year versus August a year ago. Labor Day weekend is typically one of the biggest sales periods of the year, as dealers offer discounts to clear cars off their lots before the new model-year vehicles arrive.

PITTSBURGH — PNC Bank has opened its new $400 million headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh.About 2,200 PNC employees will move into the 33-story building on Wood Street between Fifth and Forbes avenues.CEO William Demchak described the glass-skinned building on Thursday as the “crown jewel” of the bank's environmentally friendly development efforts. The skyscraper was built to consume about half the energy of a typical office tower.

PITTSBURGH — The Boeing Company is investing $7.5 million over the next three years as part of a joint venture with Carnegie Mellon University to establish an aerospace data analytics lab.Company and university officials said Thursday that researchers in the lab will analyze complex data collected from the aerospace engineering giant's aircraft and defense technologies. Its goal will be to improve design, construction, maintenance and operation of modern planes.It will be staffed with about 20 faculty members and graduate students.