It’s that time of the year again when Distribution Center magazine brings you the broadest landscape possible about the nation’s budget: where we are and where we’re going.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) released its monthly TRENDS report, showing average sales for HARDI distributor members increased by 11.8 percent in August 2015.

The macroeconomic indicators for the U.S. economy are decidedly mixed. U.S. industrial production is growing at a slowing rate, as is U.S. gross domestic product, but the sluggishness in industrial production is more pronounced and thus makes the news cycle and impacts perception.

Forecasters are generally optimistic sorts. We are naturally bright-siders and more likely to err on the border of being too optimistic. Our kids are always the most talented ones on the field and, our dog is the best, but to tell you the truth, not really the smartest.

I had a chat with Mike Reilly, president of EWC Controls, and we talked about what he does regarding forecasting. I wanted one manufacturer and one wholesaler (see the interview with Jeff Corken) to give me a “from the ground view” of how they forecast. I suspect most of us do it somewhat similarly, but it’s helpful to confirm that what you’re doing is sensible or considering an adaptation from your current approach to something new.

I had a chance to catch up with Jeff Corken, president of Florence, Ky,.-based The Corken Steel Products Co., to capture a glimpse of what they do regarding forecasting on the wholesale side of the HVACR industry in the Midwest.

SUWANEE, Ga. — Mitsubishi Electric US Inc., Cooling & Heating Division (Mitsubishi Electric), North America’s leading marketer of advanced cooling and heating systems for commercial and residential applications, announced the appointment of Guillermo Juvera as vice president, supply chain management.

With a little less than one year left until the 2016 elections and a little more than one year left in President Barack Obama’s final term in office, it’s time to take a look at what 2016 may have in store for HVACR distributors and our industry at large.

In the old days, distributors operated as if all civilization ended at the edge of the piece of dirt they called their territory. Overlooking national trends, being caught off guard by new technologies and losing out on the opportunity to shape the future were all symptoms of this limited outlook.

During the Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) Annual Conference in Orlando, HARDI leadership transferred several key leadership positions, including the position of president from Bill Bergamini (ILLCO Inc.) to Michael Meier (Meier Supply).