Google Keyword Order

SERPs for New Widgets <> Widets New?

[percentages]

When did Google start changing the SERPs based upon word order when not using quotation marks?

I just noticed that a search for New Widgets produces something very different to a search for Widgets New.

Use 3+ word search terms and chaos reigns!

It looks like yet another attempt to stop some sites from dominating SERPs at the cost of common sense and good results.

[Marcia]

Are you talking about word order on the page in phrases, or in page titles?

[roddy]

Since early May, at least. I was (accidentally) top of page 1 for two word combination X Y, and 29th or something similar for Y X.

Unfortunately infectious disease X has now disappeared, so all the people living in Y are no longer searching for information about it in any order . . .

Roddy