Increased imports have driven a depreciation since early 2013 in the exchange rate that has now stabilized. The nominal exchange rate between the Myanmar kyat and the US dollar appreciated by 3 percent between August and December 2012, which raised concerns about its negative impact on Myanmar’s export competitiveness especially as inflation was also rising. However, the exchange rate depreciated by almost 14 percent in the first half of 2013, peaking at K975/US$1 as at July 2013 and then starting to decline in August-September. A number of factors seem to be behind the observed depreciation. First, the demand for imports, such as materials for construction, continue to increase in response to improving business opportunities that have opened up since the country embarked on the path of economic and political reforms. Second, consumption imports, such as for cars, have also increased following the relaxation of some import and exchange rate restrictions. Finally, another factor behind the significant depreciation of the nominal exchange rate seems to have been the decline in gold prices. With the price of gold falling in recent months and domestic inflation rising, most savers have tried to maintain value by purchasing US dollars.