LONDON — Stronger-than-expected January retail sales provided a glimmer of light for the struggling British economy on Friday — and suggest that the country’s recession will be short-lived, according to some economists. Sales rebounded by 3.4% from December, according to the Office for National Statistics, the strongest monthly gain since April 2021. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a more modest growth of 1.5%. Sales volumes increased in all areas except closing, as food shops saw the biggest boost. Consumers “spent more for less in January,” the ONS said, with the total they paid rising by 3.9%. The latest figures follow the news of Thursday that the British economy entered a technical recession in the final quarter of 2023. Gross…
