The nine-question survey covered the overall HVAC market and respondents’ individual businesses. Results were compared with the 2015 survey, which asked for forecasts for 2016.

“It is always interesting to see how trends across the exhibitor landscape continue to shift,” said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Co., which owns and manages the AHR Expo. “We’re pleased to note the increase in responses around anticipated business growth, as well as an increase in good and excellent outlook responses regarding a majority of the HVACR industry’s various market segments. Combining these positive predictions with the fact that the 2017 AHR Expo will be the largest held in the show’s 88-year history, we are anticipating a stellar year for business activity among exhibitors and attendees.”

Overall, 98 percent of survey participants said they were feeling positive about 2017, including those who rated prospects as “fair.” Twenty-four percent said they felt “excellent” about 2017 — almost a 10 percent increase from last year, officials said. Fifty-four percent said they felt “good,” while 20 percent said they felt “fair” with 2 percent rating business prospects as “poor” for the year ahead.