Figures released by the Houston-based check acceptance company showed that bargain hunters spent 2.2 percent more on Friday than the day after Thanksgiving 1996. Across Texas, sales rose 3 percent over last year. Austin was up 4.9 percent, Dallas-Fort Worth was up 2.6 percent, Houston rose 4.2 percent and San Antonio rose 3.3 percent. In the Midwest and Southeast, residents spent 3.4 percent more this year, the West was up 2.1 percent and the Mid-Atlantic states spent .5 percent more. Sales in the Northeast rose only .3 percent.
Checks account for more than one-third of retail spending.
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