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.

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.

2014 was an interesting year for our industry. How many people had heard of a Polar Vortex? While I wasn’t too excited about shoveling all that snow, being in the furnace business made the winter a little more bearable.

The leaves have stopped changing color, and football is still on TV, so that means it is time for members to call for assistance with their market analysis for the year ahead.

Things are looking good for HARDI members as we head into 2015.

The federal budget deficit has fallen sharply during the past few years, and it is on a path to decline further this year and next year.

Likely you’re expecting an editorial about the beginning of a new year and the ever-annoying idea of resolutions. I won’t do it. Resolutions to me are the result of emotional arguments one has during the first month of each year. A resolution argues a person should lose weight, ice cream argues it should be eaten, and the scale steps in hoping to bring clarity to the situation with its data.