In 2018, we all waited and hoped that growth would begin as early as 2019. By the end of the summer, the hopes had not come true. And we all believe that there will definitely be growth in the next one. But this is just hope, no more than hope.
I would say, speculate is the right word. This market is full of speculation, after all, this is crypto and it is where the people anticipate it's future price. Just like you said, 2018 was supposedly a good year and it did in the beginning, Jan-March was very good as most of the coins really touch their all time highs. But the second quarter and up to know, nothing has happened. Altcoin went into a crypto winter. But crypto market works in cycle, so perhaps by next year, it will have a good bounce and recovery will start and the price will grow.