What the index measures

The Rapid Index is our flagship rating system — a recurring, published score that tracks how public sentiment toward a person, brand, or institution changes over time. Rather than a one-off poll, it's a tracked number: released on a set schedule, with each wave comparable to the last.

Our signature indices

Political

Rapid Political Pulse

Monthly approval and issue polling on national and elected leaders.

Reputation

Rapid Reputation Index

Rankings of politicians, institutions and brands on trust and standing.

Consumer

Rapid Consumer Pulse

Consumer confidence and purchasing trends across regions.

Social appeal

Rapid Social Appeal Index

Public affinity scores for celebrities, athletes and influencers.

Governance

Rapid Governance Scorecard

Citizen-rated performance scores for elected leaders.

Economic

Rapid Economic Confidence Index

Public expectations on jobs, inflation and household finances.

How scores are calculated

Each index score is built from survey responses converted into a single comparable figure — typically a proportion (e.g. "54% approve") or a net score (approve minus disapprove). Where an index tracks multiple dimensions (for example, competence and trust separately), we publish the sub-scores alongside the headline number so readers can see what's driving a shift, not just that one occurred.

How to interpret the numbers

Look at the trend, not just the snapshot. A single wave tells you where things stand; several waves tell you where things are heading.
Check the margin of error. A 2-point shift within a ±3% margin of error may not be a meaningful change.
Read the sub-scores. Two people can have the same overall approval for very different reasons — the breakdown tells you why.
Note the sample. National figures and regional figures answer different questions; check which one you're looking at.

Understanding the Rapid Index