Closed sales of previously owned homes rose 1.3% in July compared with June to a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 3.95 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors. That was the first gain in five months. Sales were 2.5% lower compared with the same time last year. Sales saw the biggest gains in the Northeast and were flat in the Midwest. Prices also rose the most in the Northeast.

Peloton on Thursday said it will start charging new subscribers a one-time $95 activation fee if they bought their hardware on the secondary market as more consumers snag lightly used equipment for a fraction of the typical retail price. The used equipment activation fee for subscribers in the U.S. and Canada comes as Peloton starts to see a meaningful increase in new members who bought used Bikes or Treads from peer-to-peer markets such as Facebook Marketplace.

Peloton said Thursday it is digging itself out of the red and eked out a slight sales increase for the first time in nine quarters as it slashed its overall losses. The company’s shares spiked 35% on Thursday. The beleaguered connected fitness company, which two board members have run since former CEO Barry McCarthy resigned earlier this year, saw sales grow by 0.2% during its fiscal fourth quarter. While only a modest uptick, it’s the first time Peloton posted year-over-year revenue growth since its 2021 holiday quarter.

The future of Paramount Global is still uncertain. Paramount’s special committee on Wednesday said it would extend by 15 days an agreed-upon “go shop” period of its merger agreement with Skydance as it reviews a competing offer from Edgar Bronfman Jr. Bronfman initially offered $4.3 billion late Monday for Shari Redstone’s National Amusements, the controlling shareholder of Paramount, according to a person familiar with the bid. As part of the bid, Bronfman would acquire a minority stake in Paramount.

A growing share of gym users is looking to build muscle, leading major fitness companies to refocus their efforts beyond cardio workouts. In fact, building muscle was the No. 1 goal for 2024, ahead of weight loss and general movement, according to Life Time’s annual survey of 3,000 respondents. Now, both Peloton and Planet Fitness are expanding their investments in strength. Planet Fitness changed its mix of equipment and, earlier this month, Peloton launched testing for an app dedicated to strength workout plans called Peloton Strength+.

There’s no room for price gouging in an ultracompetitive business like retail, Target CEO Brian Cornell said Wednesday. In an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” the retail chief disputed campaign talking points accusing grocers of inflating prices. He said retailers have to be responsive to customers or risk losing business. He was asked by CNBC’s Joe Kernen, who referred to comments by Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and asked if Target or its competitors ever benefit from price gouging.

DETROIT – Ford Motor is delaying production of a next-generation all-electric pickup truck at a new plant in Tennessee and canceling plans for a three-row electric SUV, the company said Wednesday. Instead, Ford said it will prioritize the development of hybrid models, as well as electric commercial vehicles such as a new electric commercial van in 2026, followed by two EV pickup trucks in 2027. The pickups are expected to be a full-size truck, which will be produced in 2027 at the Tennessee plant that’s currently under construction, and a new midsize truck being developed by a specialized “skunkworks” team in California.

TJX Cos. raised its full-year guidance on Wednesday after posting another quarter of strong sales, but its outlook still fell just short of Wall Street’s expectations. The discounter behind Marshalls, HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx is now expecting full-year earnings to be between $4.09 and $4.13, compared with estimates of $4.14, according to LSEG. For the current quarter, TJX is expecting earnings per share to be between $1.06 and $1.08, compared with estimates of $1.

Macy’s cut its full-year sales forecast Wednesday, as the department store operator said it is contending with selective shoppers and more promotions. The retailer posted a mixed quarter, as it topped Wall Street’s earnings expectations but missed on revenue. Macy’s said it now anticipates net sales of between $22.1 billion and $22.4 billion, which is lower than the $22.3 billion to $22.9 billion range it had previously anticipated. That also would be a year-over-year decline from the $23.