There are two threads with reports from Google searchers that Google has dropped the estimated number of results and time to return the results from the Google search results page. We have threads at Google Web Search Help and WebmasterWorld with people noticing it missing.

Here are screen shots, with the help of Think Mantra.

With the estimates and time to return results:

Without the estimates and time to return results:

I personally do not see the estimates missing, so I grabbed the second screen shot from Think Mantra.

Jimmy Deheeger from the Google team implied it might be a bug. He suggested “clearing your browser’s cache and cookies.” Or maybe it is a test and clearing your browser’s cache and cookies would take you out of the test?

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help and WebmasterWorld.