This article looks at five key issues distributors and manufacturers should watch closely in the next year.
 
The U.S. House of Representatives plans to adjourn for the year on Sept. 26. And, with the August recess not over until Sept. 8, Jade West, senior vice president for Government Relations for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, doesn’t expect much more to get done before a new Congress takes its place in January.

However, distributors and manufacturers may want to keep their eye on a few critical issues going into the next session.
 
Energy
The prices of finished energy goods -including home heating oil, gasoline and lubricating oils among others -increased 28 percent from July 2007 to July 2008, according to …