More are more of the searches that previously displayed the Google 10 Pack of local results above the organic search results are now showing only 7 business listings, instead.

This was at first something that was being tested in just few West Coast markets as a way to make room for local ads above and/or below the 10 Pack. However, here’s a bit more evidence of it’s spread, even though no local ads appear around it:

A quick search for family lawyer terms in several cities ( Denver, Phoenix, Akron, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans) also showed a 7 Pack instead of the familiar 10 Pack. But San Diego is one of the test markets for the new ads, so a search for family lawyer san diego triggered the 7 Pack and also included local ads ( marked with the blue ballons) above the 7 Pack and below the sponsored ads:

San Francisco is also a test market for the new local ads. A search for family lawyer san francisco from my location returned the results below . Note how the local ads have top placement on the page with no other sponsored ads above them:

To me, this indicates that the 10 pack is shrinking and 7 pack/local ad combo will spread across the Google universe.