How the Momentum Score works
The 0–100 score is not a black box. It measures whether a search term is rising broadly, repeatedly, recently, and with enough evidence to trust the move.
The five weighted signals
Every candidate already has a better current rank than its first available rank. The score then separates durable multi-period movement from a noisy one-period spike.
Evidence adjustment: the weighted score is reduced when there are fewer than five adjacent comparisons. A dramatic two-period jump can rank highly, but it cannot receive the same confidence as a durable six- or twelve-period pattern.
Score bands
How to read the supporting metrics
| Metric | What it means | Useful interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency | Improving adjacent transitions divided by all comparable adjacent transitions. | High consistency suggests the move is repeated rather than dependent on one jump. |
| Acceleration | Recent average movement minus the earlier average movement. | Positive values mean the trend is speeding up; negative values mean it is cooling. |
| Volatility | Population standard deviation of valid period-to-period percentage changes. | Low volatility is smoother. High volatility requires checking the chart for spikes and reversals. |
| Coverage | Available rank periods divided by selected periods. | Missing periods reduce confidence and may indicate a weak or intermittent term. |
| Evidence | Confidence based on the number of adjacent comparisons, capped after five. | Longer verified paths can earn the highest score bands. |
What the score does not claim
Relative Search Rank is a directional popularity rank. It does not reveal exact search volume or unit sales.
Competition, margins, reviews, seasonality, sourcing, and conversion still need separate validation.
The score summarizes observed movement. Future demand can reverse after the latest report.
Use the score to prioritize research, then inspect the full historical path before making a decision.