Auction Insights shows who you’re competing against in the same Google Ads auctions and how often they outrank or overlap with you.
Tracking it weekly (not monthly) helps spot rising CPCs, new competitors, or shifting auction dynamics early.
How to Check It
Go to your Campaigns, Ad Groups, or Keywords tab.
Select the items → click Auction Insights at the top.
Export the report weekly (Excel/Sheets) and date-label it.
Keyword-level reports are most actionable.
Key Metrics to Watch
Impression Share – Are you losing visibility?
Position Above Rate – Are competitors outranking you?
Overlap Rate – Who’s entering your auctions most often?
Outranking Share – How often you beat them.
How to Read It
CPC ↑ + IS ↓ → Competitors increased bids.
CPC ↑ + IS steady → Google auction/pricing shift.
Position Above ↑ for one rival → They’re bidding more aggressively.
Use It To
Spot new competitors early.
Protect profitable keywords.
Decide when to defend, shift, or scale.
Tracking Auction Insights weekly gives you visibility into why your CPCs rise — competition, strategy, or algorithm.