Guest Editorials
Appliance Industry Association Forecasts

The leaders of many of the most important associations share their thoughts on the state of the appliance industry.

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
2004 Industry Forecast

By Joseph M. McGuire, president

After several years of strong industry shipments, increased participation, and activity within our organization, including the expected merger of the Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturers Association (VCMA) into AHAM, we will remain energized and focused on our mission: to serve a growing industry...

Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute
Stronger Economy Brightens HVAC/R Outlook

By William G. Sutton, president

An accelerating U.S. economy, buoyed by strong productivity growth and historically low interest rates, promises in 2004 to reduce unemployment. That is good news for the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry, which has been waiting for manufacturing and office construction to catch up to the sizzling home building market...

Consumer Electronics Association
Focus On CE

By Gary Shapiro, president and CEO

At the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), our mission is simple - to grow the consumer electronics industry. We are much more than the producers of the world's largest and greatest consumer technology event - the International CES. With more than 110,000 technology professionals from more than 100 countries, the International CES truly is the world's gathering place for consumer technology...

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association
2004 GAMA Forecast

By Evan R. Gaddis, president

GAMA, an association of appliance and equipment manufacturers, greets 2004 with optimism as we capitalize on our manufacturers' innovation, vision, and accomplishments during the past year. Additionally, we see the appliance and equipment manufacturing industries benefiting from a solid upturn in the U.S. economy...

International Housewares Association
Design, Innovation, New Technology are Key to 2004 Growth

By Philip Brandl, president

Design, innovation, branding, and new technology are the keys to growth and profitability in today's changing retail environment. Each will be critical as suppliers strive to build product uniqueness and consumer loyalty - and not incidentally, profitability....

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
OPEI Forecast

By William Harley, president

Recent economic stimulus and other positive factors led to a powerful growth spurt in the third quarter of this year and a 7.2-percent expansion of the U.S. economy. Accordingly, Model Year 2003 ended on a high note for the outdoor power equipment industry, and in turn, OPEI has an optimistic outlook for Model Year 2004. This is also supported by very positive economic news from the U.S. Commerce Department...