The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
forecasting \fore"cast*ing\ n. The process of calculating and predicting future events, usually based on extrapolation from past experience, and with varying degress of uncertainty. Syn: prediction, foretelling. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
forecasting n 1: a statement made about the future [syn: prediction, foretelling, forecasting, prognostication]