A survey of consumer sentiment conducted by the Discover card brand foundcredit union members marginally more optimistic than non-creditunion members about the economy in general but less optimisticabout their own individual economic circumstances.

The Discover U.S.Spending Monitor for January 2013 found that the percentage ofcredit union members who rated the economy as “excellent” or “good”rose by four points over the same time last year, to 15%, which wasone point over the 14% of non-credit union members who rated theeconomy “excellent” or “good.”

At the same time, the percentage of credit union members whorated the economy as “poor” fell by eight points to 45%.

But that was the end to credit union member optimism in thesurvey. The percentage of credit union members who expected theeconomy to get better dropped by three points over the same timelast year, to 32%, and the percentage of CU members who expectedthe economy to stay the same increased from 10% to 15%.

Credit union members who rated their personal finances as“excellent” or “good” decreased one percentage point year-over-yearin January, to 37%. This is also a four-percentage point declinequarterly from November 2012, Discover said.

Non-credit union members with the same rating of “excellent” or“good” increased three points to 34% in January, compared with thesame time period last year, Discover said, adding that the numberof credit union members who believe their personal finances aregetting “better” fell four points year-over-year to 24%, whilenon-credit union members with this expectation increased threepercentage points annually, to 23%.