07:05 AM EST, 03/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Following a dismal post-pandemic performance, Canadian

productivity trends finally showed "some spark" late last

year, said Bank of Montreal (BMO).

Output per hour worked rose 0.6% quarter over quarter in Q4, or at a 2.3% annual rate. That was well above the long-run trend of closer to 1% and was enough to put the year-over-year rate at 0.8%, noted the bank.

No one will applaud that figure, but it basically matches average growth over the past 25 years, pointed out BMO.

Looking through the wild swings of the past few years,

productivity has risen at a meagre 0.3% average annual

pace since the end of 2019.

So, clearly, the pandemic left a lasting mark, stated the bank.

Looking ahead, it's unfortunate to say, but the trade war

will likely ding productivity again, according to BMO. With manufacturing, resources and agriculture under direct fire -- all sectors with high levels of productivity -- this points to weaker output per hour overall.