Before you listen to an economics report from the USA, read the following true or false questions.
 

Now listen and decide if the statements are true or false.

Listen again and write the missing words in the gaps. Use the pause button on your media player to give you time to write. Follow the example.
 

Saving money is a first step toward . Putting money away for the future also supports the banking system. Banks need a supply of savings to provide money for .  In the United States, people who want to start a savings account have many . Banks, savings-and-loans and credit unions are traditional places to open an account. Credit unions are cooperatives for people who are in some way. For example, the members may work for a university or a government . Most credit unions are non-profit organizations. Savings are protected up to a if a federally guaranteed bank, savings association or credit union ever . Savers have their money guaranteed up to . Banks and other financial organizations pay interest on savings accounts. But the interest rates are . Certificates of deposit are another way to save. They pay higher interest rates. With a certificate of deposit, a person agrees not to withdraw an amount of money for a period of time. The term could be three months, or it could be years. Longer terms, and larger amounts, pay higher interest. People can withdraw their money early but at a . Another way to save is through a money market fund. This is mutual fund. Mutual funds invest money from many people. Money market funds pay higher interest than savings accounts. The money is usually in short-term government securities. Money market funds, however, may not be federally guaranteed like other kinds of savings. In a number of countries, including the United States, people have been saving less and less. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is a of thirty industrial countries. A report from the O.E.C.D. shows that in nineteen ninety Americans had a household savings rate of . This year, it is expected to be one-half of one percent. That is below the other members except Australia, Denmark and New Zealand. Next year, though, Americans are expected to save more than one percent of earnings. In Japan, the second largest economy, the savings rate in nineteen ninety was . The estimate for this year and next is five percent.

Listen one more time and read the transcription.