Toyota Car Sales Soar

The automaker says since the beginning of the month, U.S. sales have risen 50 percent. Plus: Bank of America is getting rid of overdraft fees on debit cards.

Toyota is reporting a spike in sales despite massive recalls to fix sudden acceleration in several models. The automaker says since the beginning of the month, sales have soared 50% in the U.S. that credits the jump to a number of new incentives including zero percent financing for several Toyota models. More federal aid may be on the way for millions of out of work Americans. The Senate has approved a bill that extends unemployment benefits to those out of work for more than six months and living in states with the highest jobless rates. It now heads to the House for a vote. On Wall Street, stocks posted modest gains. The Dow Industrials inched up three points. The NASDAQ added 18. Bank of America is getting rid of its overdraft fees on debit cards. Starting this summer, customers won’t be able to spend more than they have in accounts linked to their debit cards. More banks could drop similar overdraft fees ahead of new federal rules limiting how much banks can charge. How often do you check your smartphone or BlackBerry? A new survey found more than half do while driving. About 60% say they check while in the bathroom, 18% do it while on a date and 11% check their handheld devices while in church. For more headlines, click on cbsmoneywatch.com. In New York, I’m Alexis Christoforous.