Sales of Hot-Blast heaters have grown steadily during the past five years, as shown in the following table:
YEAR
SALES
1
480
2
525
3
548
4
593
5
614
Using exponential smoothing constants of 0.35 and 0.65, develop forecasts for years 2 through 6. The sales manager had predicted, before the business started, that year 1's sales would be 440 air conditioners. Based on error (MAD, MSE or MAPE: any one of these is fine), which smoothing constant gives the most accurate forecast?
Use a three-year moving average forecasting model to forecast sales of heaters.
Which of the methods analyzed here would you use? Explain your answer.