Google Search Console Performance Report Average Position Bug

Posted on July 10, 2025
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Google Search Console Average Position Glitch Post-Core Update

Google Search Console (GSC) is experiencing a glitch in its average position metric, showing significant declines that do not align with actual ranking data. This anomaly surfaced soon after the June 2025 core update but appears unrelated to it. Users suspect the issue might be tied to changes involving ccTLD tracking or feature snippet reporting. As of now, Google has not confirmed or addressed the potential bug.

Optimixed’s Overview: Understanding the Recent Anomalies in Google Search Console Ranking Data

Background and Observations

Following the release of Google’s June 2025 core update, many SEO professionals and website owners noticed a peculiar inconsistency in the average position data within Google Search Console (GSC). Despite the charts indicating a sharp drop in average rankings, manual checks of search results reveal no actual decline in keyword positions.

Community Reports

  • Jose Rivolta reported on July 4th on X that GSC showed a massive drop in average position without any changes in click-through rates, impressions, or organic traffic.
  • Juan C Vargas questioned on July 9th if a bug exists when filtering GSC data by country, noting unexpected ranking drops paired with impression increases.
  • Koen Leemans observed similar trends across multiple properties, especially when using country filters tied to specific country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).
  • Alexander Außermayr also highlighted the issue on LinkedIn, amplifying community concerns.

Potential Causes and Speculations

While the timing coincides with the core update, the consensus points towards a technical glitch within GSC rather than an actual ranking shift. Some speculate that changes in how Google handles ccTLDs or updates to All In One (AIO) feature snippet reporting could be contributing factors.

Current Status

As of now, Google has not issued any official statements regarding this anomaly. The SEO community continues to monitor forum discussions and social media threads for updates or confirmations.