DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors Corp. said Tuesday its October sales rose 4 percent, its first monthly sales increase since January 2008.

BY THE NUMBERS: Sales rose to 177,603 vehicles from 170,585 in October 2008. Year-to-date sales are down 33.8 percent to 1.72 million vehicles.

THE DIVISIONS: All four divisions posted gains last month. Chevrolet sales climbed 4.6 percent to 116,436, GMC volumes increased 16.1 percent to 25,423, Cadillac rose 17.3 percent to 11,602 vehicles and Buick jumped 14.2 percent to 9,053.

GM's light truck volumes increased 14.1 percent to 112,697.

TOP SELLER: The company's best-selling car was the Impala, with 12,721 sold. Customers also bought 31,754 Silverado-C/K pickup trucks.

HOT MODELS: Malibu sales shot up 84 percent over the year-earlier level to 12,086. Buick's LaCrosse volumes soared 103 percent, to 3,228 vehicles, compared to October 2008.