The four bands on the world score
One phrase for how broadly the indicators are clear of their thresholds: Broad growth (65 and above), Uneven growth (50 to 64), Broad slowing (35 to 49) or Contraction (below 35).
The world score is the GDP-weighted mean of the six region scores, each of which combines the sub-scores of its indicators. The regime bands cut that score into four phrases. They describe a cross-section, how many indicators are clear of their thresholds and by how much, not a phase of a dated business cycle: the score can move from Uneven growth back to Broad growth without a contraction in between. Uneven growth means most indicators are clear but several have turned; Broad slowing means the triggered ones outweigh the clear ones. Contraction keeps a phase word because it carries a test of its own: it is held back until at least two regions' labour triggers have fired, so the alarm colour appears only when the labour market confirms it. The phrase changes only once the score is two points past a cut-off.
Regions carry the same cut-offs as colours: Green at 65, Amber from 35, Red below. The method is set out in full on the methodology page.